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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday decided to let its recent ruling narrowing a key provision of the Voting Rights Act take effect immediately, rather than waiting the customary period before implementation.
The decision follows last week’s ruling that limited the scope of Section 2 of the law and found Louisiana’s congressional map unconstitutional for relying on race-based districting. The outcome has already prompted the state to reschedule upcoming House primaries while new district lines are drawn.
Supporters of the ruling had urged the court to act quickly so Louisiana would have time to redraw its map ahead of elections. Opponents argued the court should delay implementation because voting in the primary had already begun.
The court’s order allowing immediate effect was unsigned. In a concurring opinion, Samuel Alito wrote that Louisiana should not be required to use a map that has been found unconstitutional and said there remains sufficient time to adopt a replacement.
In dissent, Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized the court’s approach, saying its recent decisions have “spawned chaos” in the South.
“To avoid the appearance of partiality here, we could, as per usual, opt to stay on the sidelines and take no position by applying our default procedures,” Jackson wrote. “But, today, the Court chooses the opposite.”
President Donald Trump previously applauded the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a Louisiana congressional map, calling the ruling a victory for equal protection under the law.
“Today’s 6-3 Supreme Court decision in the Callais case is a BIG WIN for Equal Protection under the Law, as it returns the Voting Rights Act to its Original Intent, which was to protect against intentional Racial Discrimination,” President Trump wrote on social media.
“Thank you to brilliant Justice Samuel Alito for authoring this important and appropriate Opinion. Congratulations!” he added.
