GOP Could Gain Nearly 200 Statehouse Seats If SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights Act

"Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats across the South if the U.S. Supreme Court guts a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act, a new analysis finds. The bulk of the gains would be concentrated in 10 GOP-controlled state legislatures in Southern states, according to the analysis, produced by Fair Fight Action, a Georgia-based progressive voting rights group, in partnership with Black Voters Matter Fund, which advocates on behalf of Black voters."

"The Supreme Court's conservative majority appears likely to severely weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark 1965 civil rights law that bans racial discrimination in voting access. Section 2 restricts racial gerrymandering, and until now has limited the power of lawmakers to draw districts that dilute the voting power of racial minority voters."

Republicans stand to gain nearly 200 state legislative seats in the South if the Supreme Court weakens Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Most gains would occur in ten GOP-controlled Southern state legislatures. Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund projected those gains. Section 2 currently limits racial gerrymandering and protects minority voting power. A sweeping decision could let lawmakers draw congressional, state, and local districts that dilute minority votes. Oral arguments occurred in October and the court could issue a decision at any time.

Read at Truthout