On April 29, 2026, The Supreme Court issued its ruling on Louisiana v. Callais and stripped away voter protections against racially discriminatory gerrymandering. This decision paves the way for maps that dilute the power of Black and Brown voters at the ballot box.
What the Supreme Court did:
- Effectively eliminated Section 2 of the VRA, ending federal protection of minority voting rights.
- Neutered the private right of action, preventing individuals and civil rights organizations from suing for voting rights violations (this mechanism accounts for 65%+ of VRA litigation).
- Enabled wholesale redistricting that will eviscerate Black and Brown political power in Congress and state/local governments.
Callais is designed to be the death knell to the inclusive, participatory democracy we fight to achieve. While political intervention is the most obvious path, this decision and its reverberations present a generational opportunity to organize to protect the pillars of our democracy. Nowhere in the nation will this work matter more than in the South.
While it won’t be easy, we are here to support our network in your continued efforts to empower voters, advance good policy, and build a fairer South. Below are resources provided by Fair South, the strategic coalition of Fair Count, Fair Fight Action (FFA), the Southern Economic Advancement Program (SEAP), and the American Pride Rises Network (APR).
