What is the US supreme court’s voting rights ruling about and will it affect midterms?
The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v Callais to strike down congressional maps that used race as a factor in redistricting, deeming them an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The decision significantly weakens Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intentional racial discrimination to challenge voting maps, a much higher legal bar. The ruling is expected to influence redistricting in southern states and could diminish the political power of Black and minority voters in upcoming elections.
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Demonstrators outside the US supreme court in Washington DC in October 2025. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenDemonstrators outside the US supreme court in Washington DC in October 2025. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesUS supreme courtExplainerWhat is the US supreme court’s voting rights ruling about and will it affect midterms?Rightwing justices in Louisiana v Callais led 6-3 vote to redraw congressional maps in blow to Voting Rights ActEd PilkingtonThu 30 Apr 2026 16.34 EDTFirst published on Thu 30 Apr 2026 16.06 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe US supreme court issued a landmark ruling on Wednesday, Louisiana v Callais, relating to how states draft congressional maps under the key civil rights statute, the Voting Rights Act.By a margin of 6-3, the…
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