The supreme court’s voting rights decision wasn’t about law – it was about politics | David Daley and Eric J Segall
The U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in Callais v Louisiana effectively dismantled key protections of the Voting Rights Act's Section 2, allowing Republican-led states to redraw electoral maps in ways likely to reduce Black political representation. The ruling, described as politically motivated rather than legally grounded, is expected to significantly shift congressional and state legislative power toward Republicans. Critics argue the court has undermined multiracial democracy and distorted congressional intent, precedent, and constitutional principles.
- ▪The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in Callais v Louisiana erased remaining protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act against racial gerrymandering and vote dilution.
- ▪The ruling enables Republican state legislatures to redraw congressional maps, potentially eliminating up to 19 U.S. House seats and nearly 200 state legislative seats held or influenced by Black voters.
- ▪The decision follows the court's 2013 Shelby County v Holder ruling, which disabled the Voting Rights Act’s core enforcement mechanism.
- ▪Republican lawmakers in states like Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina immediately moved to redraw districts to increase GOP representation.
- ▪The authors argue the court substituted its political preferences for legal reasoning, contradicting congressional intent and established precedent.
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‘The Roberts court has accumulated power to shamefully use on behalf of the darkest forces of our nature.’ Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreen‘The Roberts court has accumulated power to shamefully use on behalf of the darkest forces of our nature.’ Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Getty ImagesOpinionUS voting rightsThe supreme court’s voting rights decision wasn’t about law – it was about politicsDavid Daley and Eric J SegallThis court has impaled one of the most important laws in American history, with disastrous consequences for multiracial democracyFri 1 May 2026 09.00 EDTLast modified on Fri 1 May 2026 09.02 EDTShareThe supreme court justices John Roberts, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have made it their life’s work to unravel the Voting Rights Act and undo…
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