On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti The Supreme Court case that could upend the Voting Rights Act
Oct 3, 2025
J. Morgan Couser, Professor Emeritus at Caltech and a historian of voting rights, joins Kareem Creighton, Vice President at the Brennan Center, to discuss the upcoming Supreme Court case that could challenge Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. They explore the historical context of racial gerrymandering and its impact on representation. The conversation delves into legal implications of the Louisiana v. Calais case, the significance of Section 2 for minority voting rights, and the potential nationwide consequences of weakening these protections.
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Section 2 Is A National, Permanent Enforcement Tool
- Section 2 is the Voting Rights Act's national, permanent tool against racial vote dilution.
- It allows plaintiffs to prove discrimination by effect rather than intent, widening enforcement options.
Tuskegee's 28-Sided Gerrymander
- In Gomillion v. Lightfoot, Tuskegee's congressional map was redrawn into a 28-sided shape to exclude Black voters.
- The result left a majority-Black county with a wholly white congressional district, illustrating extreme racial gerrymandering.
1982 Amendments Sharpened Section 2 Enforcement
- The 1982 Congressional amendments clarified Section 2 and introduced a seven-factor test used by courts.
- After those changes and the 1986 Jingles decision, Section 2 litigation surged and judges focused on racially polarized voting as a key factor.
