One of the most innocuous yet insidious ways voter suppression rears its head is through redistricting, a process by which a state legislature draws up voting maps along political lines. Despite a federal judge finding that their current legislative map violates the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana lawmakers have rejected a new map that would’ve included eight new, majority Black districts.
The Louisiana Illuminator reports that Bill 487 and Bill 488, which would’ve redrawn the legislative maps for the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, were struck down in a 9-6 and 9-5 vote that fell along party lines. The current maps were drawn in 2022 and utilized census data from 2010, despite the fact that the state’s Black population has only increased over the last decade. Black voters make up a third of Louisiana’s population, but the current voting maps only have one majority Black district.
Rep. Edmond Jordan (D-Baton Rouge), ithe chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, authored both bills. He explained the changes were necessary to address a ruling by a federal judge last year that found the current map disenfranchised Black voters.
“By us not upholding our obligation and redrawing these maps … I think it sends a signal that we are unwilling to do so,” Jordan told his fellow legislators. “Rather than wait on the court to come up with a decision, I think it’s incumbent upon us to get ahead of that and maybe draw these maps and show the court that we’re willing to comply with Section 2” of the Voting Rights Act.
The Republican opposition explained that they didn’t feel the need to update the maps as the ruling is currently under appeal, and they believe that the courts will rule in their favor. They also brought up concerns that the new district lines would require current elected officials to move in order to still represent their district or possibly have to run against another incumbent to maintain their seat in the legislature.
Jordan understood those concerns but stated his priority was giving Black voters an equal voice in determining who represents them. “What we’re trying to do is attempt to unpack and uncrack these districts so that they would comply with Section 2,” Jordan said.
From the Louisiana Illuminator:
Packing is a type of gerrymandering that forces a large number of voters from one group into a single or small number of districts to weaken their power in other districts. Cracking dilutes the power of those voters into many districts.
Jordan’s plan would have added new majority Black House districts in Natchitoches, Lake Charles, Shreveport and Baton Rouge, and Black Senate districts in Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Jefferson Parish.
In what can only be described as saying the quiet part out loud, state Republicans added that they found Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to be outdated.
For clarity, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act prevents any voting law or measure “which results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.” Considering that they’re actively using legislative districts to curb the power of Black votes, it’s clear Section 2 is still a necessity to maintain voting rights within majority Black communities.
Redistricting is always a partisan affair, with the legislative map being drawn by whatever party has power. Far too often, though, the redistricting efforts by state Republicans are largely built around minimizing Black voting power to keep Republicans in office. This isn’t only an issue in Louisiana, as several states have drawn legislative maps that explicitly undermine Black votes.
Redistricting plans in the state of Texas are also facing legal challenges due to allegations of racism. There’s an ongoing fight in Texas’s Tarrant County over redistricting plans that several state legislators believe violate the Voting Rights Act, and there’s currently a federal case underway against the Texas state government over its 2021 voting map that was believed to have “diluted the power of minority voters.”
One of the worst offenders is Alabama, whose redistricting efforts have been deemed racist by federal judges several times. State Republicans have said that if they don’t receive a favorable ruling in their appeal on the decision, they won’t update the voting map until 2030 to avoid federal oversight. There is nothing more on brand for the modern GOP than having a temper tantrum when being told to be less racist.
If anything, this is a reminder that in America, the boring, procedural racism is often the worst kind.
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