Key Facts

• The court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which stops racially discriminatory election practices like gerrymandering.
• Section 2 helped end Jim Crow laws and expanded voting rights for Black Americans in the South.
• The U.S. population was about 85% white in 1965 and is now about 59% white, with multiracial populations growing rapidly.
• Latino and Asian American populations have increased notably, changing political maps in states such as Texas, Georgia, and Arizona.
• The American South is seeing strong population growth, especially in cities that have histories of voting rights struggles.
• Critics worry the ruling weakens protections for voters of color and could allow politicians to manipulate election districts unfairly.
• The ruling argues that some court applications of Section 2 may force states into race-based decisions that the Constitution forbids.
• Legal challenges over voting rights are expected to move to state courts and Congress, affecting future elections in 2026 and 2028.