A federal court ruled Thursday that Louisiana’s state House and Senate district maps dilute black voting strength in violation of the Voting Rights Act, and has ordered the maps to be redrawn.
The ruling by U.S. District Chief Judge Shelly Dick came just weeks after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed on Jan. 22 a bill creating a new congressional map that establishes a second majority-black district.
The new map reshapes Louisiana’s 6th District, that of Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), giving it a black population of around 56 percent and making it the state’s second majority-black district.
In her ruling on Feb. 8, Ms. Dick said “the Enacted House Map unnecessarily concentrates the Black population into one district while dividing the rest of the Black population into smaller districts.”
“The Court finds that the Black population in Baton Rouge has grown by 25 percent between 2000 and 2020, and the Enacted House Map does not properly account for this significant growth,” the ruling states.
The court’s filing noted that the state’s voting-age population is about 33 percent 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.
“The State hereby permitted a reasonable period of time, to be determined by the Court following submittals by the parties, to address the Court’s findings and implement State House and Senate election maps that comply with the Voting Rights Act,” it stated.
In a document accompanying the ruling, the judge 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.
It stated “the court holds that the preponderance of the evidence establishes that the enacted state House and Senate maps crack or pack large and geographically compact minority populations” such that black voters have less opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.
New maps could affect a legislative balance of power that now overwhelmingly favors Republicans in a state where the GOP is dominant. Mr. Landry is a Republican who regained the top government job for the party after it was held for two terms by a Democrat.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) praised the court’s decision, saying it reinforces the importance of protecting every citizen’s right to vote and ensures that electoral processes are free from discriminatory practices.
“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,” Megan Keenan, staff attorney with the ACLU Voting Rights Project, said in a press release.
“This win would not be possible without the commitment displayed by our clients and generations of Black Louisianians who have spent years organizing and fighting to receive the Voting Rights Act’s promise of fair representation,” she added.
Sara Rohani, redistricting fellow at the Legal Defense Fund, called the ruling “a testament to the strength and resilience of Black communities across the state.”
“Today’s decision is a victory that affirms the voices and votes of Black voters in Louisiana,” she stated. “Voting rights and political participation are under attack across our country.”
Tom Ozimek and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times
