Voting Rights Act Supreme Court Case: Why Louisiana’s Battle Could Redefine U.S. Election Law

The U.S. Supreme Court is once again at the center of a high-stakes fight over the Voting Rights Act, with a Louisiana redistricting case argued on October 15, 2025, that could dramatically reshape how racial discrimination in elections is challenged. The outcome could decide the future of Section 2, the law’s most powerful remaining tool against racially biased voting practices.

The case, involving Louisiana’s congressional map, is being closely watched because it could overturn or severely weaken key protections established during the Civil Rights Movement. A ruling against Section 2 could limit voters’ ability to challenge discriminatory maps and voting laws — potentially reshaping political power in Congress and beyond.

Supreme Court Revisits Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act

Section 2 allows voters and civil rights groups to challenge election laws and district maps that dilute minority voting power. After the Supreme Court struck down Section 5’s preclearance requirement in 2013’s Shelby v. Holder, Section 2 became the primary mechanism for protecting minority voters.

That provision was reaffirmed in a 2023 decision requiring Alabama and later Louisiana to redraw their maps to better represent Black voters. Those rulings led to the creation of two additional Black-majority congressional districts and helped elect new representatives, including Rep. Shomari Figures in Alabama.

However, the current case revisits those same principles. A group of white plaintiffs argues that Louisiana’s newly drawn second majority-Black district — represented by Democrat Cleo Fields — is unconstitutional because race was the main factor in its creation. They claim the map violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by prioritizing race over traditional redistricting principles like compactness.

The Supreme Court initially heard the case in March 2025 but took the unusual step of requesting additional briefings, leading to the rehearing now underway. The justices have specifically asked whether intentionally creating a majority-minority district violates the 14th or 15th Amendments.

Potential Outcomes and National Impact

The stakes are high. If the court rules against Section 2 or limits its application, existing majority-Black districts in Louisiana and Alabama could disappear, including the one currently held by Fields. Dozens of other congressional districts created through Section 2 lawsuits could also be redrawn.

The consequences would extend far beyond Congress. About 75% of Section 2 cases involve state and local offices, from school boards to city councils. Weakening Section 2 would make it significantly harder to challenge racially discriminatory election systems at every level of government.

A ruling against Section 2 could also render moot a separate case involving two Native American tribes in North Dakota. That case challenges a legislative map they say excludes them from fair representation. A recent appeals court decision ruled that only the U.S. Justice Department — not private citizens or groups — can bring Section 2 lawsuits. If the Supreme Court agrees, most future challenges to discriminatory voting laws could disappear altogether.

Justice Clarence Thomas has already signaled skepticism about Section 2, arguing that the Constitution takes precedence over statutes and that using race to draw districts conflicts with the 14th Amendment. Louisiana itself has now abandoned its defense of the current map and urged the court to eliminate race as a factor in redistricting.

The court’s ruling, expected in 2026, could redefine how race is considered in American elections — or whether it can be considered at all. The future of the Voting Rights Act may hinge on this Louisiana case.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What is the Supreme Court case about the Voting Rights Act?

It centers on whether Louisiana’s new congressional map, which added a second majority-Black district, violates the Constitution by relying too heavily on race.

Q2: What is Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act?

Section 2 allows voters to challenge election laws and maps that dilute minority voting power. It’s the main tool left after Section 5’s preclearance requirement was struck down in 2013.

Q3: How could this ruling change future elections?

If Section 2 is weakened, many minority-majority districts could disappear, and future challenges to discriminatory maps and voting laws could be severely limited.

Q4: Why is this case important beyond Louisiana?

The decision could affect redistricting and voting rights cases nationwide, including challenges brought by Native American tribes and other minority groups.

Q5: When will the Supreme Court rule on this case?

A decision is expected in 2026, though its impact could reshape elections for decades.