Voting Rights Case Could Shift Legislative Power in Southern States

Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats across the South if the U.S. Supreme Court guts a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act, according to a new analysis by Fair Fight Action, a Georgia-based progressive voting rights group, and Black Voters Matter Fund.

The analysis warns of significant political shifts concentrated in 10 GOP-controlled state legislatures in Southern states. The case in question is Louisiana v. Callais, which examines the constitutionality of Louisiana's congressional map.

A ruling that weakens Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act could allow state lawmakers to redraw districts in ways that dilute the voting power of racial minority voters. If Section 2 is struck down, it is projected that Democrats could lose about 191 seats in state legislatures, primarily held by Black lawmakers in districts with majority minority populations.

The total number of state legislative districts in these states could drop from 342 to 202. The states affected include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Some Republican states argue that Section 2 has been misinterpreted, limiting lawmakers' ability to create favorable maps. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in October, and a decision could come at any time, with potential implications for both state and federal legislative power.