Voting Rights Act

Maryland lawmakers will hold a special session in August to consider a constitutional amendment aimed at shaping future congressional redistricting. The proposal seeks to clarify the state constitution following a 2022 court ruling that invalidated a prior map, with Democrats hoping to solidify an 8-0 congressional delegation. Republicans criticized the move as an attempt to dilute GOP representation.

Maryland lawmakers will hold a special session in August to consider a constitutional amendment related to congressional redistricting, aiming to create a map that could result in an 8-0 Democratic delegation. The effort follows a failed redistricting attempt earlier this year and a 2022 court ruling that impacted the current map, with Republicans criticizing the move as a power grab.

The Congressional Black Caucus faces challenges due to a Supreme Court ruling limiting the Voting Rights Act and Republican redistricting efforts, which analysts say could threaten over 20 members. The caucus has partnered with the NAACP to pressure universities in states like Alabama and Georgia to reconsider support for Black lawmakers at risk of losing seats.

A conservative law firm sued Denver Public Schools (DPS) over its 2024 school board voting map, alleging it was drawn with illegal racial intent. The lawsuit claims the map diluted White voting power while maintaining racial majorities in certain districts, violating the Fifteenth Amendment and Voting Rights Act. DPS has not yet commented on the case.

The article discusses the Supreme Court's conservative super-majority's decisions during its latest term, noting their alignment with traditional conservative positions on issues like LGBTQ rights, the Second Amendment, and the Voting Rights Act. It also highlights exceptions where the court ruled against President Trump's tariff policies, suggesting a distinction between traditional and MAGA conservatism.

Vincent Dixie and Darden Copeland are competing in the Democratic primary for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, a race shaped by redistricting and efforts to challenge Republican Rep. Matt Van Epps. The primary is scheduled for August 6, with early voting starting July 17, and includes other candidates like Saletta Holloway and Joshua Warren Sales.

The Congressional Black Caucus faces potential challenges to Black political representation due to a Supreme Court ruling limiting the Voting Rights Act and Republican redistricting efforts. The caucus, which has 60 members and significant influence in Congress, warns that over 20 members may be at risk of losing their seats, prompting collaboration with the NAACP to pressure universities in states where redistricting threatens Black lawmakers.

The Congressional Black Caucus faces potential setbacks due to a Supreme Court ruling limiting the Voting Rights Act and Republican-led redistricting. The caucus, a key force in Black political representation, warns of systemic voter disenfranchisement and has partnered with the NAACP to pressure universities in states where Black lawmakers risk losing seats.

An article marking the U.S.'s 250th anniversary highlights ongoing attacks on civil rights for Black Americans, citing Supreme Court decisions like Shelby County v. Holder and Louisiana v. Callais that weakened the Voting Rights Act, leading to voter suppression laws and gerrymandering. The 2026 'State of Black America' report questions the viability of the American dream amid these challenges, noting a widened Black-white voter turnout gap since 2013.

The article reflects on America's 250th anniversary of democracy, highlighting the Supreme Court's decision to preserve birthright citizenship while addressing ongoing threats to democratic values, including attacks on immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ rights, election integrity, and federal institutions. It emphasizes the need for bold reforms to strengthen democracy, such as restoring the Voting Rights Act and adopting ranked-choice voting.

A conservative law firm sued Denver Public Schools over its 2024 school board voting map, alleging it was drawn with illegal racial intent. The lawsuit claims the map violated the Fifteenth Amendment and Voting Rights Act by prioritizing race-based representation for Black and Latino voters over the White population, referencing the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision.

The Congressional Black Caucus faces potential challenges to its political influence due to a Supreme Court ruling narrowing the Voting Rights Act and Republican-led redistricting. Over 20 members may be at risk of losing their seats, prompting the CBC and NAACP to pressure universities in states like Alabama and Georgia to reconsider support from Black athletes.

The Supreme Court's recent term prioritized expanding its own power and that of the presidency over Congress, sidelining legislative authority in cases involving regulatory independence, political spending, and voting rights. Key decisions included limiting Congress' ability to protect voting districts and allowing the president to withhold foreign aid, while critics argue the court increasingly acts as a 'line-item veto' for laws it dislikes.

Jon Meacham, a MS NOW guest historian, argues the U.S. as a 'multiracial, multiethnic democracy' was not founded until 1965 due to laws like the Voting Rights Act and Immigration and Nationality Act. Other MS NOW hosts, including Rev. Al Sharpton and Joy Reid, question celebrating the 250th anniversary of 1776, citing the nation's history with slavery and advocating for Juneteenth as a more meaningful start to American democracy.

The Essence Festival of Culture will feature panels addressing Black political disenfranchisement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened the Voting Rights Act. The Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) will highlight impacts of redistricting in Louisiana, where one of two majority-minority congressional districts was eliminated. Panels will focus on voting rights, redistricting, and strategies to protect Black political power.

Colorado's Supreme Court rejected ballot initiatives aimed at redrawing congressional districts, citing a violation of the state constitution's multi-subject rule. The initiatives, which sought to bypass the independent redistricting commission, were struck down alongside Republican-backed counter proposals. The decision impacts efforts to adjust district maps before the next census.

The article discusses the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and highlights concerns from survivors of civil rights activists who feel America is regressing on voting rights. It notes that some individuals paid the ultimate price to enact the legislation.

House Democratic caucus leaders are proposing a Supreme Court expansion, term limits, and a code of ethics for justices, alongside eliminating the Senate filibuster. The resolution responds to the Supreme Court's decision to narrow the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which allowed Republican states to redraw congressional maps and reduce majority-minority districts.

The Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais has significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act by limiting Congress's power to address voting practices with discriminatory effects unless they show a 'strong inference of racial discrimination.' This ruling, combined with the court's shadow docket decision in Allen v. Milligan, has enabled states like Alabama to redraw congressional districts in ways that diminish minority voting influence, while rejecting claims of intentional discrimination.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Arkansas' limits on voter assistance, allowing a lower court ruling to stand that blocks private enforcement of Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act. Advocacy groups argue this decision weakens protections for voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency, while state officials defend the law as a common-sense measure to prevent undue influence.

Louisiana Republicans have declined to join other Southern states in pursuing redistricting efforts, avoiding the contentious debates seen in previous congressional map discussions. The U.S. Supreme Court's Callais decision, which challenges majority-minority districts, has raised concerns about potential threats to Democratic representation in Louisiana, but legislative leaders say no redistricting plans are underway before the 2030 census.

Democrats and Republicans in ten states are pursuing congressional redistricting efforts ahead of the 2028 elections, influenced by a U.S. Supreme Court decision weakening the Voting Rights Act. States like New York, Maryland, Colorado, New Jersey, and Virginia are considering legislative changes to enable partisan redistricting or bypass independent commissions.

Barack Obama's presidential center opened in Chicago on Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. The center aims to inspire community change and includes exhibits on Obama's presidency and a replica of the Oval Office. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops declared freedom for enslaved people in Texas.

Georgia Republican lawmakers Jon Burns and Larry Walker announced they will not pursue redistricting efforts during a special session, citing pending legal cases. They shifted focus to property tax relief, gas tax suspension, and a July 1 deadline for removing QR codes from ballots.

A three-judge panel heard arguments on Tennessee's redistricting map. The ACLU of Tennessee, Memphis voters, and the American Civil Liberties Union allege intentional discrimination, seeking to block the map before elections. The new map divides Memphis and Shelby County into three sections, reducing the state's last majority-Black district, following a Supreme Court ruling that weakened protections under the Voting Rights Act.

Harold Washington, Chicago's first Black mayor, led the 1982 extension of the Voting Rights Act to protect jurisdictions with histories of racial discrimination. Today, the SAVE America Act, supported by President Donald Trump and Republicans, faces criticism for potentially restricting voting access, mirroring past battles over voting rights.

Devon Thomas, a Black Vermonter and pastor, reflects on Juneteenth and the Supreme Court's recent ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act, emphasizing ongoing struggles for racial and social justice. He connects these issues to Vermont's history, including Confederate flag displays and systemic inequities affecting both minority and white low-income communities.

Georgia's Republican legislative leaders rejected Gov. Brian Kemp's call to redraw congressional and legislative districts during a special session, citing concerns over the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minority voters. They prioritized economic matters over partisan redistricting and delayed changes for the 2028 elections.

Georgia's Republican legislative leaders rejected Governor Brian Kemp's proposal to redraw congressional and legislative districts for the 2028 elections, citing concerns over a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened Voting Rights Act protections. House Speaker Jon Burns stated lawmakers would prioritize economic issues over redistricting, which could be revisited later, and highlighted pending litigation and the need to understand the court's impact on racial considerations in map-drawing.

Most Americans view civil liberties like voting rights, free speech, and religious freedom as essential to the nation's identity but under threat, according to an AP-NORC poll. The survey highlights growing anxieties about the trajectory of these rights amid debates over immigration and the economy, with significant concerns about voting rights among Black Americans.

David Walbert, an advocate for fair elections, expresses concern over the Supreme Court's weakening of the Voting Rights Act and President Trump's recent fraud claims. He references a 1982 case in Burke County, Georgia, where structural electoral barriers prevented Black voters from electing officials despite comprising 40% of voters. The article highlights historical and ongoing issues suppressing Black political representation in the South.

A 2026 AP-NORC poll finds most Americans view civil liberties like voting rights, free speech, and religious freedom as core to national identity but under threat. Over 90% consider voting rights and free speech highly important, yet two-thirds see voting rights as threatened, with nearly half citing major threats to free speech.

Most Americans believe civil liberties like voting rights, free speech, and religious freedom are under threat but remain central to the nation's identity, according to an AP-NORC poll. The survey highlights widespread concern about the safety of these rights, with significant divisions over the importance of gun rights. The findings were gathered before a Supreme Court ruling that weakened part of the Voting Rights Act.

A majority of Americans believe civil liberties like voting rights, free speech, and religion are under threat but essential to the U.S. identity, according to an AP-NORC poll. The survey found over two-thirds view voting rights as threatened, with significant concerns about free speech and gun rights. Diverse opinions exist on the right to bear arms, with less than a third perceiving it as safe.

Most Americans believe civil liberties like voting rights, free speech, and religious freedom are under threat but remain central to the nation's identity, according to an AP-NORC poll. The survey reveals widespread concern about these rights facing major threats, with significant divisions on the importance of gun rights. The poll was conducted before a Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.

Georgia lawmakers are preparing for a special session to redraw congressional and state legislative district maps following a U.S. Supreme Court decision impacting the Voting Rights Act. Black legislators express concerns about potential displacement as GOP leadership may seek to maximize political gains, with legal battles over previous map redraws still pending.

Georgia's Republican-led legislature is beginning a redistricting session to redraw voting districts after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, but no proposed maps have been released yet. The session aims to create districts for the 2028 elections, sparking criticism over lack of transparency and potential dilution of nonwhite voters' political power.

Georgia Republicans are beginning a redistricting session without proposed maps, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which invalidated a congressional map for racial gerrymandering. Outgoing Gov. Brian Kemp aims to delay new district lines until 2028, but Democrats and activists criticize the lack of transparency.

Georgia Republicans are beginning a redistricting session to redraw voting districts, potentially reducing political power for Black and nonwhite voters, following a Supreme Court decision that weakened Voting Rights Act protections. The session, called by outgoing Governor Brian Kemp, lacks proposed maps, frustrating Democrats and activists who demand transparency. The process could set a precedent for applying the court's ruling to state legislative maps in Southern states with high Black voter populations.

Maryland's top Democratic leaders plan to address redistricting in a mid-July special session, aiming to approve a congressional map amendment for the November ballot. The effort seeks to reverse a 2022 court ruling that invalidated a pro-Democratic map and follows a Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais affecting racial considerations in redistricting. Uncertainty remains about whether Democrats can secure enough support in the legislature to move forward.