Current:Home > MarketsJudge: Louisiana legislative districts dilute Black voting strength, violate the Voting Rights Act-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Judge: Louisiana legislative districts dilute Black voting strength, violate the Voting Rights Act
View Date:2024-12-24 00:09:22
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New state House and Senate boundary lines drawn up by the Louisiana Legislature in 2022 dilute Black voting strength in violation of the U.S. Voting Rights Act, a federal judge in Baton Rouge ruled Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick’s ruling blocked the use of the House and Senate district maps in future elections and gave the state “a reasonable period of time, to be determined by the Court” to draw up new districts. The order comes weeks after the Legislature passed a congressional map with a second majority-Black district, in part as a result of litigation over which she presided.
Dick’s filing noted that the state’s voting-age population is about 33% Black. But only 11 of 39 state Senate districts and 29 of 105 House districts are predominantly Black — less than a third in each case.
In a document accompanying the ruling, she pointed to “illustrative plans” suggested by plaintiffs who challenged the new districts that would increase majority-minority Senate districts to 14 and House districts to 35.
Dick did not order that the plaintiffs’ illustrative plans be adopted, but said the existing districts could not stand, ruling that “the Enacted Maps do not afford an equal opportunity for Black voters to elect preferred candidates.”
New maps could affect a legislative balance of power that now overwhelmingly favors Republicans in a state where the GOP is dominant. New Gov. Jeff Landry is a Republican who regained the top government job for the party after it was held for two terms by a Democrat. Republicans hold more than two-thirds of the seats in each legislative chamber — veto-proof majorities. A new map with more Black districts could dent that majority, as Black voters traditionally have been more likely to favor Democrats.
“This decision sets a powerful precedent for challenging discriminatory redistricting efforts across the nation, confirming that attempts to dilute Black communities’ votes and their power will not be tolerated,” said Megan Keenan, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Voting Rights Project. The ACLU was part of a coalition of voters and organizations that challenged the maps.
veryGood! (14211)
Related
- FBI raids New York City apartment of Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, reports say
- BP and Shell Write-Off Billions in Assets, Citing Covid-19 and Climate Change
- Pregnant Athlete Tori Bowie Spoke About Her Excitement to Become a Mom Before Her Death
- 5 things to know about Southwest's disastrous meltdown
- All Social Security retirees should do this by Nov. 20
- Restoring Utah National Monument Boundaries Highlights a New Tactic in the Biden Administration’s Climate Strategy
- Electric Vehicles for Uber and Lyft? Los Angeles Might Require It, Mayor Says.
- BP Pledges to Cut Oil and Gas Production 40 Percent by 2030, but Some Questions Remain
- Dick Van Dyke says he 'fortunately' won't be around for Trump's second presidency
- Americans are piling up credit card debt — and it could prove very costly
Ranking
- Could trad wives, influencers have sparked the red wave among female voters?
- Tesla's stock lost over $700 billion in value. Elon Musk's Twitter deal didn't help
- Minimum wage just increased in 23 states and D.C. Here's how much
- Full transcript of Face the Nation, July 9, 2023
- Nevada Democrats keep legislative control but fall short of veto-proof supermajority
- Bidding a fond farewell to Eastbay, the sneakerhead's catalogue
- The economics lessons in kids' books
- Eminem's Role in Daughter Alaina Scott's Wedding With Matt Moeller Revealed
Recommendation
-
Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Details to Meri Why She Can't Trust Ex Kody and His Sole Wife Robyn
-
How Maryland’s Preference for Burning Trash Galvanized Environmental Activists in Baltimore
-
Madonna says she's on the road to recovery and will reschedule tour after sudden stint in ICU
-
Disney employees must return to work in office for at least 4 days a week, CEO says
-
The state that cleared the way for sports gambling now may ban ‘prop’ bets on college athletes
-
What Does Net Zero Emissions Mean for Big Oil? Not What You’d Think
-
Indiana deputy dies after being attacked by inmate during failed escape
-
Trump’s EPA Claimed ‘Success’ in Superfund Cleanups—But Climate Change Dangers Went Unaddressed