The 2021 redistricting cycle is now underway. LDF has been closely monitoring the redistricting process in key states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia to ensure that the process is transparent and communities have a say in how electoral lines will be drawn. Here, we’ve compiled a state-by-state look at our work. Since the redistricting process began, LDF has sent letters, submitted proposed maps, and filed lawsuits opposing discriminatory redistricting plans.
The 2021 redistricting cycle will be the first without Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in place to protect against discriminatory redistricting. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder effectively dismantled Section 5 and the pre-approval process that required states with histories of racial discrimination redistricting to seek approval from the federal government before implementing plans. The absence of the federal government’s pre-approval process is a major detriment to voters of color going into this next redistricting cycle.
Achieving equal representation and being able to cast equal and effective votes depends in part on redistricting maps that are drawn fairly to reflect and respect our communities. The maps drawn for the post-2020 redistricting cycle will determine the allocation of political power and representation at every level of government across the nation for at least the next ten years. Since the federal government will no longer act to review discriminatory voting policies in advance, the redistricting process now lies with everyday citizens, especially Black, Latino, and Asian American voters, who are most vulnerable to disenfranchisement through discriminatory voting policies.
BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, a federal judge in Robinson v. Ardoin ruled in favor of Black voters challenging Louisiana’s newly enacted congressional map as a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The decision came
BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, a five-day evidentiary hearing for a preliminary injunction came to a close in Robinson v. Ardoin, the case challenging Louisiana’s congressional map as a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
March 30, 2022 – Today, the Louisiana legislature voted to overturn Governor John Bel Edwards’ veto of the Congressional map passed earlier this year, which failed to add a second majority-Black district. In response, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the NAACP Louisiana State Conference, Louisiana Progress, Black Voters Matter Fund, Progressive Social Network and Power Coalition for Equity and Justice sent a letter concerning the redistricting process for the
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal court today ordered South Carolina to redraw its 2021 enacted congressional map, ruling that a district anchored in Charleston County is a racial gerrymander. The case was brought on behalf of the South Carolina State
Today, the Legal Defense Fund, the Western York Branch, and the South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP sent a letter to the York, South Carolina Municipal Clerk Amy Craig regarding district maps for the York City Council. The York
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal court in South Carolina heard closing arguments today in a major voting rights case challenging the state’s new congressional map. The Legal Defense Fund (LDF), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of South Carolina, Arnold
In a victory for voting rights, South Carolina has passed maps adjusting South Carolina state House district lines in some of the most historically significant areas of the state for Black voters by passing new maps this session in response
Merrill v. Milligan FAQ LDF’s Case Challenging Alabama’s Redistricting Maps and Why it Matters On October 4, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the
Today, the Legal Defense Fund, the Elmore County Branch of the NAACP, the Elmore County Civic Improvement League, the American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”) of Alabama sent a
The U.S. Supreme Court today granted Alabama’s bid to temporarily halt a district court ruling that had required the state to redraw its new congressional map to comply
A federal court today struck down Alabama’s newly drawn congressional map. As a result of the preliminary injunction, the state Legislature must draft a new congressional map that
Today, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit against the State of Texas, alleging that new congressional and state-level legislative districts passed by the Texas Legislature
On October 27, 2021, the Waller County, Texas Commissioners Court held the final scheduled public hearing on redistricting. LDF submitted a supplemental letter in response to the hearing
On October 25, 2021, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) submitted a letter and an updated redistricting map—Appendix C— to the Waller County, Texas Commissioner’s
On October 19, 2021, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) sent a letter to members of the Waller County, Texas Commissioners Court regarding their obligation
Today, the Legal Defense Fund, Gulfport Branch of the NAACP, Southern Poverty Law Center, and One Voice sent a letter to the Harrison County, Mississippi School Board regarding
Today, the Legal Defense Fund sent a letter to the Gulfport City, Mississippi Council regarding redistricting plans and urging members to adopt Community Plan 7 or 8 presented
Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., with co-counsel Hogan Lovells and Fred Banks, filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and coalition partners sent a letter to the Mississippi Standing Joint Legislative Committee on Reapportionment and the Standing
Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) sent a letter to the Fayette County, Georgia Board of Commissioners (BOC) concerning the redistricting process and the
