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The redistricting case before the Supreme Court — Louisiana v. Callais — could decide the future of critical voting rights protections. And we at AOTL have to be ready to respond, so that we can empower voters, no matter what the Court may rule.

Let’s take a look at how we got here:

1869

The 15th Amendment was passed, affirming that the "right of citizens of the United States shall not be denied or abridged . . . on account of race." As a sponsor of the amendment said at the time, this guarantees Black voters the right to “choose from among his fellow citizens the man who suits him for his representative,” AKA, vote. The amendment also empowered Congress to pass laws to ensure its enforcement.

1883

Much of the enforcement of Reconstruction amendments — the rules to help ensure civil rights protections — was dismantled, weakening the federal government’s protections of voting rights.

1965

Civil Rights leaders passed the Voting Rights Act (VRA), enforcing strong protections for voters of color nationwide.

1982

Shortly after a U.S. Supreme Court decision interpreted the Voting Rights Act narrowly, in such a way as to make the law weaker, Congress quickly amended the statute to clarify its full power, significantly enhancing Section 2, which prohibits vote dilution against voters of color nationwide.

Section 2 means that maps cannot have the effect of denying groups of voters of color from electing their candidate of choice when they would otherwise have the power to do so. It is one of the most powerful tools for communities to ensure that courts can enforce their right to have a voice in their government.

2022

Louisiana drew a map that allowed Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice in just one of six congressional districts — despite the fact that Black voters make up a third of the state’s population. The fair maps movement successfully challenged this map in court, and the map was found by a federal district court to likely violate Section 2 of the VRA.

2023

The U.S. Supreme Court resoundingly reaffirmed the power of the Voting Rights Act, in Allen v. Milligan, a case arising from Alabama. Following the case, litigation in Louisiana, which had been on pause awaiting the Milligan decision, continued, and additional federal courts affirmed the substance of the lower court’s ruling against Louisiana’s map.

2024

Louisiana — now having had seven different federal judges agree that its previous map likely violates the Voting Rights Act — redrew its map. The new map drawn by the Louisiana legislature allowed Black voters to elect their candidate of choice in two districts, instead of only one.

2024-2025

Louisiana’s fair map was challenged by non-Black voters known as the Callais appellees, who argued that they were harmed by a map that allowed Black voters additional representation. The Supreme Court heard the case earlier this year, but instead of ruling, opted to hear the case for a second time this October.

Section 2 of the VRA is at stake — which could have nationwide implications for fair maps. If the court rules in favor of the Callais appellees, voters of color across the country could lose key protections.

Today

We have to be ready to respond. All of our progress for fair representation is on the line. With so much at stake, we have to be ready for whatever legal changes may come next. We have to empower the grassroots to fight back with information and tools to lift their voices.

Donate now to power our critical work to empower voters in Louisiana and beyond, and build a grassroots coalition to support voting rights.







All On The Line [[link removed]] is the grassroots advocacy campaign supported by the National Redistricting Action Fund. Support our work to end gerrymandering.

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