Supreme Court Again Weakens Voting Rights Act with Callais Decision

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court once again weakened the federal Voting Rights Act. The decision opens the door to brazen political power grabs throughout the country. Some states may leverage this ruling to attempt further last-minute changes to congressional and legislative maps.

Today’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais marks the third time the court has weakened the Voting Rights Act since 2013. The Supreme Court has once again diminished minority voter power—and emboldened partisan power grabs—nationwide.

Samantha Tarazi, Voting Rights Lab Co-Founder and CEO, issued the following statement in response: 

“The Voting Rights Act dared to imagine a better democracy for the United States. But today the U.S. Supreme Court weakened a key part of the Voting Rights Act as part of a campaign to dismantle one of our nation’s proudest legislative achievements—one that’s stood for over 60 years.

“Today’s decision empowers partisan power grabs nationwide. The Supreme Court has emboldened those seeking to seize, and never relinquish, political power in our democracy. Voters — particularly minority voters — will pay the price.”

Background: Click here to read more about what’s at stake for our elections at the Supreme Court in 2026. Click here to read our deep dive into Watson v. RNC, a case that could change rules for mail and military voting throughout the country.

As the Supreme Court has repeatedly taken aim at the federal Voting Rights Act, seven states have enacted or expanded a state voting rights act since 2021, according to our Election Policy Tracker.

###

Voting Rights Lab is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings state policy and legislative expertise to the fight for voting rights. We work in partnership with organizations across the country to secure, protect, and defend the voting rights of all Americans. And we track voting laws and legislation in all 50 states at tracker.votingrightslab.org.