Category Archives: Voting Rights Act

With Louisiana Essentially Flipping Sides in Callais Case Before Supreme Court and Arguing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is Unconstitutional, Full Defense Shifts to Voting Rights Groups

August 28, 2025, 7:50 amSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

As noted yesterday, Louisiana essentially flipped sides in the Lousiana v. Callais case. In an earlier brief, Louisiana argued that its congressional districts were not a racial gerrymander because politics, rather than race, predominated in drawing district lines. Now… Continue reading

“Louisiana urges Supreme Court to bar use of race in redistricting, in attack on Voting Rights Act”

August 27, 2025, 3:22 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Mark Sherman for the AP: Louisiana on Wednesday abandoned its defense of a political map that elected two Black members of Congress and instead called on the Supreme Court to reject any consideration of race in redistricting in a case… Continue reading

“Of Course the Voting Rights Act Would Die at This Moment”

August 25, 2025, 7:30 amSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Linda Greenhouse NYT column.

“Advocates File Immediate Legal Challenge to Texas Gerrymander “

August 23, 2025, 11:40 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Democracy Docket: Hours after Texas lawmakers approved a new gerrymandered congressional map Saturday morning, Texans asked a court to block it. The plaintiffs*, a group of Black and Latino Texans, filed an amended complaint in an ongoing challenge to… Continue reading

“Mississippi Supreme Court election map dilutes Black voters’ power, judge rules”

August 20, 2025, 4:37 pmVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Reuters: A federal judge has ordered Mississippi to redraw its election map used in voting for state supreme court justices after finding the current one dilutes the power of Black voters in violation of a landmark federal voting rights law.… Continue reading

New Section 2 Lawsuit Filed in Montana

August 19, 2025, 7:31 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Release: On August 14, 2025, the Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and two Native voters filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana challenging Chouteau County’s unfair, at-large voting system for… Continue reading

Q & A with Me in New York Magazine: “The Supreme Court Could Supercharge the GOP’s Redistricting Power Grab”

August 18, 2025, 9:40 amredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I spoke with New York’s Intelligencer‘s Nia Prater: What are the potential ramifications if the Court weakens Section Two or ultimately does away with it? First of all, it would be a huge blow for minority representation. A big… Continue reading

Fifth Circuit Affirms Lower Court Ruling that Louisiana STATE Legislative Maps Violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act

August 14, 2025, 10:26 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Per curiam opinion here (with one judge concurring in the judgment). At the end of the opinion, the court rejects a constitutional challenge to Section 2. The Louisiana v. Callais case currently before the Supreme Court concerns Louisiana’s congressional maps.

“Trump Isn’t the Only One to Blame for the Gerrymander Mess”

August 14, 2025, 7:44 amredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

David Daley NYT oped: President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Texas Republicans have reignited the gerrymandering wars. The brazen power grab in Texas pushed Democrats to start their own efforts to unravel independent commissions established by voters, and now… Continue reading

Supreme Court Fast-Tracks Potential Demolition of Section 2 of Voting Rights Act by Setting Argument October 15 in Louisiana Case, Possibly in Time to Affect 2026 Midterm Elections

August 12, 2025, 8:20 amSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

We know the Supreme Court dallied a long time in setting the Louisiana case for reargument, only recently adding a doozy of a question in this racial gerrymandering case that could tee up a potential knocking down of the remaining… Continue reading

“Voter Intimidation: Forging a Judicial Standard”

August 12, 2025, 8:11 amchicanery, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Ben Goldstein has written this article for the Journal of Law and Politics. Here is the abstract: In the last few years, federal courts have seen a notable increase in voter intimidation cases. Empirically, instances of voter intimidation, whether litigated… Continue reading

“Voting Rights and Private Rights of Action: An Empirical Study of Litigation Under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, 1982-2024”

August 12, 2025, 7:36 amDepartment of Justice, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Chris Seaman has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, FSU Law Review). Here is the abstract: The Voting Rights Act is perhaps the most effective civil rights law ever enacted, bringing millions of Americans who have historically been discriminated against… Continue reading

“It’s been 60 years since the Voting Rights Act was signed. Will it make it to 61?”

August 8, 2025, 4:20 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Zach Montellaro for Politico: The Voting Rights Act was signed into law 60 years ago this week. What the law will look like when it reaches its 61st anniversary next year is a big question. The landmark piece of legislation… Continue reading