In a Victory for Louisiana Voters, Court Orders Legislature to Do Its Job, Redraw Congressional Map
Contact
Jena Doyle
Doyle@redistrictingfoundation.org
In a Victory for Louisiana Voters, Court Orders Legislature to Do Its Job, Redraw Congressional Map
Washington, D.C. —Today, a federal judge denied the Louisiana Legislature’s request to extend the deadline to redraw the congressional map as ordered by the court. In the event that the legislature does not pass a compliant map that includes two districts allowing Black voters to elect their candidate of choice, the court will continue with a judicial remedial map process. This marks another victory for Louisiana voters supported by the National Redistricting Foundation (NRF), who filed a lawsuit asking the court to declare that the state legislature’s congressional map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
“This decision is a win for Louisiana voters and the fight for a congressional map that fairly represents the voting power of the state’s communities of color,” said Kelly Burton, NRF President. “The Court has correctly recognized the necessity to continue with a remedial map drawing process while expecting the Louisiana legislators to fulfill their duty to pass a VRA-compliant map. The purpose of this litigation is to ensure that all Louisianians have the opportunity to vote in fair elections in the November midterm. If the legislature fails at its constitutional duty to pass a compliant map, the court will ensure that Louisianans receive a fair congressional map and a fair process, and that is a win for voters and democracy.”
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