POLITICS

Supreme Court orders new review of voting rights

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WASHINGTON. The Supreme Court on Monday set aside appeals-court rulings and sent two cases involving Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act back to lower courts, ordering further consideration of whether private individuals and advocacy groups can sue to challenge state legislative maps drawn after the 2020 Census. In the North Dakota case, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that only the federal government can sue to enforce Section 2; the Supreme Court previously blocked that ruling in July, allowing the Native American tribes’ preferred maps to remain temporarily in place while the case proceeds. WASHINGTON. The action also affects a separate Mississippi challenge where similar reasoning had been cited, and the high court returned that appeal for reconsideration. Advocacy groups, which bring most Section 2 lawsuits, remain central to enforcement questions that the lower courts will now reassess. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, writing that both rulings should have been reversed. The decision follows the court’s April ruling that narrowed Section 2 claims by requiring proof of intentional discrimination, a ruling that has already diluted the Voting Rights Act’s enforcement power and made future cases harder to win.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

1965: Congress enacts the Voting Rights Act, including Section 2 prohibiting discriminatory voting practices.
Post-2020 Census: Mississippi and North Dakota adopt legislative maps later challenged as violating Section 2.
Appeals courts (including the 8th Circuit) ruled that private parties might be barred from suing to enforce Section 2.
July: Supreme Court issued a decision that weakened Section 2’s enforcement and temporarily blocked an appeals-court ruling.
Monday: Supreme Court set aside appeals-court rulings and remanded the Mississippi and North Dakota cases for reconsideration.

Why This Matters to You

Your voting rights may be affected. The Supreme Court's decision could impact who can challenge state voting maps. This includes maps you vote in. If you're part of an advocacy group, your ability to fight for fair voting could change.

The Bottom Line

The Supreme Court's move has stirred the pot on voting rights. It's unclear how this will play out. But it's clear that the fight for fair voting isn't over. Keep an eye on how your state responds. Worth forwarding if you believe in equal voting rights.