Supreme Court: Congress Lacks Authority Under Voting Rights Act to Ban Voting Practices Having Racially Discriminatory Effects
on April 29, 2026.
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that Congress lacks the authority under section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to ban voting practices that have racially discriminatory effects. According to the Court, Congress only has this authority when there is intentional race discrimination. The decision greatly weakens the force of the Voting Rights Act, making it extremely difficult for plaintiffs to prove claims of racial discrimination in the drawing of Congressional districts. The case is Callais v. Landry....