UpVote Virginia Response to SCOTUS’ Louisiana v. Callais Decision

The end of the Voting Rights Act: SCOTUS Decision in Louisiana v. Callais is disastrous for the VRA

Last week, the Supreme Court handed down a 6-3 ruling, gutting the Voting Rights Act and effectively ending protections against racial gerrymandering.

While the VRA is still nominally in place, the ruling makes it all but impossible to prove gerrymandering, which is especially devastating now as the entire nation is in the throes of an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting war.

This was not unexpected. Lawyers, academics, advocates, and organizers have been preparing for this eventuality and the ripple effects on voter representation. Already - just since Wednesday - we have seen Louisiana cancel an ongoing election so they can redraw maps. 

Our democracy needs to evolve, to find new ways to ensure that communities are protected and that representation is reflective of and responsive to voters. 

We cannot afford to let electoral reform - like ranked choice voting and proportional representation - be an abstract idea. We must continue full speed ahead to innovate new ways for Americans to participate in their democracy. Will you invest in this movement?

UpVote joins our partners in their grief over this loss and invites everyone to move forward together - to fight for a democracy that matches the moment.