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6-3 Supreme Court Vote Dismantles Voting Rights Act Section 2

5/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, ending the check on racially discriminatory redistricting.
The decision now requires plaintiffs to prove racial discrimination, prompting Justice Elena Kagan to call Section 2 ‘all but a dead letter.’
Analysts warn the loss of oversight lets President Donald Trump pressure state legislatures to draw partisan maps, deepening gerrymanders and affecting daily-life policies.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, ending the check on racially discriminatory redistricting.
The decision now requires plaintiffs to prove racial discrimination, prompting Justice Elena Kagan to call Section 2 ‘all but a dead letter.’
Analysts warn the loss of oversight lets President Donald Trump pressure state legislatures to draw partisan maps, deepening gerrymanders and affecting daily-life policies.