WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court heard arguments for a high-profile Louisiana Congressional redistricting case that could potentially gut a key provision of the Voting Rights Act.
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act prohibits redrawing congressional maps that would dilute the voting power of minority groups.
Supporters of upholding Section 2 say the Voting Rights Act levels the playing field for historically marginalized groups, giving them a fair say in who they elect to Congress.
“When you’re talking about more than a third of the population not feeling as though their voices are being heard, we have a problem,” Nora Ahmed, legal director for the ACLU of Louisiana, said. “We’re not addressing the needs of the people.”
Those who oppose Section 2 say the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional because it groups voters by race, violating the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
