The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal regarding Louisiana's congressional districts, a case that has been ongoing for years. The current map, which includes two majority-Black districts, was drawn after court orders found that the initial version diluted the power of Black voters.
The decision, expected next year, could have significant implications for other states as it may clarify how lawmakers can consider the race of voters when drawing district lines to comply with the Voting Rights Act.
Louisiana's redistricting efforts have faced challenges, with the state's first map after the 2020 census being invalidated for including only one majority-Black district. After redrawing the map to include two such districts, a group of plaintiffs sued the state, alleging an overreliance on race. A three-judge district court ruled in their favor.
The current map provides Louisiana Democrats with an opportunity to add a second member to their delegation this year. The case has broader implications for civil rights groups and election experts, as it could impact how the Supreme Court handles redistricting cases and how state mapmakers consider race and political advantage in district boundaries.
The new district under scrutiny stretches diagonally from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, increasing the percentage of Black voters to 54%. The Supreme Court previously allowed the districts to be used for the November election after reviewing the case on its emergency docket in May.
