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The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that curbs the use of race in the process of drawing voting districts.
Justice Elena Kagan stated in her dissenting opinion that the Supreme Court's new interpretation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act allows states to systematically dilute minority citizens' voting power without legal consequence.
The Supreme Court's ruling will have a long-term foundational impact by diluting minority voting power by preventing the creation of districts guaranteed to elect a minority representative.
The Supreme Court has been systematically dismantling the Voting Rights Act section by section, with the most recent ruling eliminating the protections of Section 2.
The Roberts Court has been receptive to dismantling the Voting Rights Act.
The Supreme Court previously eliminated the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act, which mandated certain states with a history of racism, such as Texas, to get federal approval before changing voting laws.
The Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act is predicted to have significant consequences for the Republican party's ability to maintain control of the House of Representatives.
In the Shelby County case, Chief Justice John Roberts argued that the type of discrimination the Voting Rights Act was designed to prevent is no longer prevalent.
Following the Supreme Court's recent ruling and the prior decision in the Shelby County case, there is not much substance remaining in the Voting Rights Act.
Only Democratic-controlled states have adopted the practice of using independent or bipartisan commissions to draw voting maps.
Some states, such as California, are moving away from using commissions for redistricting because the practice has put them at a political disadvantage.
Following the Supreme Court's ruling, states like Louisiana are expected to immediately begin reviewing and redrawing their voting maps.