Staff Reports
In a significant setback to voting rights, the Supreme Court has opted not to intervene in a Texas voting redistricting case. This decision permits the enforcement of a map that has been found to violate the Voting Rights Act, allowing it to remain in effect until reviewed by a federal appeals court. The repercussions of this decision, as highlighted by CNN Supreme Court analyst Steve Vladeck, extend far beyond Texas.
While the case revolves around a local district map in Galveston, Vladeck notes that the precedent set by the court of appeals will make it considerably challenging for plaintiffs in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas to challenge an unlawful map in the future. Essentially, the ruling establishes a precedent that makes it difficult to challenge any unlawful maps except in very narrow timeframes immediately following elections.
Leftist Challenge to 2024 Voting Map Hits Massive Roadblock at the Supreme Court https://t.co/MglcAkjhUw pic.twitter.com/PucVXfEUNc
— Home Defense Gun (@HomeDefenseGun) December 13, 2023
The current redistricting plan notably impacts Precinct 3, the sole precinct in Galveston County with a black and Latino majority. It's crucial to acknowledge that the commissioners who approved this new map in 2021 are predominantly Republicans. U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown rightly deemed the map "fundamentally inconsistent" with the Voting Rights Act and mandated the creation of a new map. Judge Brown even went so far as to label the commissioners who drafted the map as racists.
Regrettably, the commissioners appealed to the 5th Circuit, which stayed Judge Brown's ruling until it could be reviewed in May. By then, the Texas primaries had already taken place, rendering any potential changes ineffective. In a public dissent, the three liberal justices on the Supreme Court argued that the Circuit exceeded its proper authority by imposing a different map, acknowledging that it violated current law.
This case underscores the adverse effects of the Supreme Court's 2013 decision to eliminate the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act. With no requirement for prior approval from the Justice Department, the implementation of the new map occurred, resulting in a diminution of power for black and Latino voters. This constitutes a clear infringement on their right to choose their preferred elected representatives.
The ongoing struggle for fair voting districts underscores the imperative for the American people to advocate for change and safeguard the integrity of our democracy.
