Supreme Court signals willingness to pare back Voting Rights Act

The Supreme Court seemed inclined Wednesday to at least chip away at — and maybe to fully scrap — a key tenet of the Voting Rights Act.The big picture: The court's conservative majority questioned whether some efforts to increase the voting power of Black people and other minority populations might be unconstitutional.Its ruling could open the door to a new wave of gerrymandering across red states, with the potential to eliminate a slew of House seats held by Democrats.Catch up quick: The case started off as a narrow challenge to one congressional district in Louisiana, but it has mushroomed into a referendum on a hallmark of civil rights-era legislation.Louisiana's legislature drew a map after the 2020 Census that only included one majority-Black district. Black voters sued, challenging the map under the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits disenfranchisement on the basis of race.Courts agreed that the map likely violated the Voting Rights Act. So Louisiana drew a new one, adding a second district of primarily Black voters.But then a group of self-described "non-African American" voters sued, claiming that adding the second majority-minority district had watered down their voting rights.The non-African-American voters seem likely to win.Some conservative justices have argued that the relevant part of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional because it allows for the use of race in policy decisions.Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined their liberal colleagues just a few years ago to save that part of the Voting Rights Act, but seemed more skeptical today."This Court's cases, in a variety of contexts, have said that race-based remedies are permissible for a period of time — sometimes for a long period of time, decades in some cases — but that they should not be indefinite and should have a end point," Kavanaugh said during oral arguments.What we're watching: A ruling is expected by this summer.

Comments

World news

Independent

Why the 90s is tasting pretty darned good in this economy: How nostalgia and Americans’ pocketbooks are bringing brands like Chi-Chi’s back from the dead

about 1 hour ago

Ukraine cannot win against Russia, warns top British army chief

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Supreme Court could deliver ‘catastrophic’ decision on Voting Rights Act and blow up protections from racial discrimination

Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay battle nears resolution in Delaware Supreme Court

Supreme Court might upend Voting Rights Act and help GOP keep control of the House

US supreme court to hear case that could upend Voting Rights Act

Gaza ceasefire deal tested. And, Supreme Court hears case questioning voting rights

Supreme court to hear Voting Rights Act challenge that could affect control of Congress – US politics live

US Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones appeal in Sandy Hook shooting case

Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones’ appeal of $1.4B Sandy Hook judgment

Disaster for Alex Jones and Infowars as Supreme Court rejects last-ditch bid to avoid paying $1.4B to Sandy Hook families

Voting Rights Act set to face Republican challenge in U.S. Supreme Court

Black residents worry new Louisiana congressional district could be lost in Supreme Court case

‘The stakes are quite large’: US supreme court case could gut Voting Rights Act

Supreme Court’s ditching of ceremonial ‘Santa robes’ sparks sartorial debate among legal profession

US supreme court hears arguments in lawsuit over Illinois mail-in ballots

Jamie Sarkonak: The Supreme Court is embarrassed of Canada. The black robes prove it

The Supreme Court fights over whether medical expertise actually exists

Supreme Court seems skeptical of conversion therapy ban

Supreme Court sees a free-speech problem with laws that ban 'conversion therapy' for minors

Supreme court reviewing ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ children

Supreme Court weighs case on conversion therapy for youth

World news

Why the 90s is tasting pretty darned good in this economy: How nostalgia and Americans’ pocketbooks are bringing brands like Chi-Chi’s back from the dead

Ukraine cannot win against Russia, warns top British army chief

Can you actually fool AI to push your resume to the top of the pile?

US treasury secretary and Chinese vice premier plan another meet over ‘unsustainable’ tariff hike

Boy’s prosthetic eye shows love for Jays

One scandal too many forces UK monarchy to sideline Prince Andrew

Investigation launched after budget airline jet almost dives into ocean moments after takeoff

Heightened sense of urgency around this 'No Kings Day'

Man fakes his own funeral ‘to see who shows up and how much they care’

Cruz Beckham is the unlikely anti-nepo baby

Novak Djokovic could not be more wrong about padel

Trump’s Zelensky meeting confirms one thing: Putin is leading negotiations

From EVs to Heathrow – China’s extraordinary grip on UK infrastructure

Why the release of Israeli hostage bodies could yet derail Trump’s peace deal

Seven easy ways to supercharge your diet – without overhauling it

Bernie-backed Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner melts down

Chinese Nobel Prize-winning physicist Chen Ning Yang dies at 103

SeaWorld trainer butchered by killer whale who turned 'psychotic' in captivity

Moment Ukraine destroys Putin's floating bomb as Russia launches fresh attacks

Man living with dead mum in flat he'd not left for eight years

Skeletons found in mass grave are ancient Roman soldiers, study finds

'It's a joyous moment' - Brother of Prince Andrew accuser

National Guard activated ahead of No Kings protests planned across US

Smuggler jailed for 40 years after shipping ballistic missile parts from Iran

Ontario Psychologists Clash Over How Much Training Is Enough

A Popular Afghan Singer Challenges the Taliban With Song

The Kids Who Sued Trump Just Lost Big in Court. Or Did They?

Carter interception, TD run key in Lions’ win

Israel identifies remains of another hostage handed over by Hamas

Kremlin pitches £6,000,000,000 ‘peace bridge’ between Russia and America

Harper Lee’s short stories are charming – but what if she never wanted them published?

The five best poetry books of all time, according to Hollie McNish

Afghan and Pakistani delegations head to Doha for crisis talks

'I was forced to watch my wife be gang raped by seven men - it was three hours of hell'

Budget airliner hurtles towards sea at 300mph seconds after take off

Skeletal woman 'locked in bedroom for 27 YEARS' utters three chilling words when found

Where the 'most beautiful girl in world' is now after viral fame and controversy

Chinese Nobel laureate and physicist Chen Ning Yang dies aged 103

Ohtani rewrites history to send Dodgers to World Series

After Zelenskyy meeting, Trump calls on Ukraine and Russia to 'stop where they are' and end the war

Lions win fifth straight, eliminate Elks

The China spy case debacle shows governments have few secrets worth knowing

I’m a tour guide – banning loudspeakers can’t come soon enough

How to save your soil after the dry summer, according to an RHS expert

Gen Z protests against corruption and inequality are shaking Morocco. Here's what to know

Heavy security after deadly violence in Kenya as thousands turn out to mourn former PM Odinga

Mexican artisans turn clay into Trees of Life that are celebrated worldwide

Deadly floods in Mexico another sign of need for improved severe weather warnings

Hamas returns remains of 10th Israeli hostage from Gaza

The female scientists who finally found an answer to endometriosis wait times

‘We’re not communists’: One club’s fight for English rugby’s soul

I moved to the Tuscan village that pays people €20k to live there

Three easy and flavourful Indian recipes, including creamy chicken curry

Stephen Mangan: ‘We don’t live for ever – my mum’s death taught me that when I was young’

I’m 69 and struggling to pay bills – I was cheated when my pension was frozen

Reeves is doom and gloom but her messy Budget may be ‘hated’ Starmer’s only hope

The 14 best new children’s books for autumn 2025