The Supreme Court recently unfroze a Louisiana redistricting case that could potentially increase black voter influence in the state. The case, which has been ongoing for several years, centers around the redrawing of district lines in Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District.
In 2011, the Louisiana legislature redrew the district lines in an effort to dilute the voting power of black voters. The new district lines split up areas with high concentrations of black voters and spread them out across several other districts. This effectively reduced the number of black voters in the 2nd Congressional District and made it more difficult for them to elect a candidate of their choice.
The redistricting plan was challenged in court by a group of black voters who argued that it violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The case made its way through the lower courts, with a federal district court ruling in favor of the plaintiffs and ordering the state to redraw the district lines.
However, the state appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court, which put the case on hold pending the outcome of another redistricting case from Texas. That case, which also involved allegations of racial gerrymandering, was decided by the Supreme Court in June of 2018.
In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that Texas had intentionally discriminated against black and Hispanic voters when it drew its district lines. The ruling was seen as a victory for voting rights advocates and set a precedent for other cases involving allegations of racial gerrymandering.
With the Texas case now resolved, the Supreme Court has unfrozen the Louisiana redistricting case and sent it back to the lower courts for further review. This means that the plaintiffs in the case will have another opportunity to argue that the district lines in Louisiana were drawn with discriminatory intent.
If the plaintiffs are successful, it could lead to new district lines being drawn that give black voters greater influence in Louisiana politics. This could have significant implications for the state’s congressional delegation, which currently includes only one black member.
The case also highlights the ongoing struggle over voting rights in the United States. Despite the protections afforded by the Voting Rights Act, many states have been accused of using redistricting and other tactics to dilute the voting power of minority groups.
As the Louisiana redistricting case moves forward, it will be closely watched by voting rights advocates and political observers alike. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the future of representation in Louisiana and beyond.
