Redistricting 2021-2023 Timeline
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The fight for fair maps has been in the works since March of 2020 when we began our Census Campaign Count Me In: Census 2020. It has been a long road to justice with some highs and some lows. If Redistricting has taught us anything, it is that we are still fighting for fair voting opportunities for all. We faced many battles at the state capitol and worked tirelessly to organize our communities to testify at the Redistricting Roadshows that occurred across the state. Following the roadshows the legislature went into an extraordinary session and we kicked Black History Month off by mobilizing over 250 people to look their representatives in the eye and urge them to pass a congressional map that reflects the data of the 2020 Census.
After long days at the Capitol and hundreds of Louisianaians testifying, the legislature still passed a map that was not reflective of our current demographics. A map that was cracked and packed and silenced black voters. Thankfully, our governor vetoed the Congressional Maps drawn by our legislature but not much time passed until the legislature overrides the governor's veto.
Following this, Power along with several other organizations filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of State and others based on the congressional map because of the violation of section two of the Civil Rights Act. We immediately went to court and argued before the Middle District where the judge ordered the defendants to produce a map that has a second majority-minority district. Not long after, the Supreme Court of the United States ordered a halt on our case until they hear and decide on the Allen v. Milligan case that came out of Alabama for very similar reasons regarding congressional districts. We waited four long months until we joined our brothers and sisters in Alabama to support them during oral arguments in front of the Supreme Court of the United States in October. We then had to wait for an additional eight months for the Supreme Court to release its opinion on the Allen v. Milligan case where the Supreme Court reaffirmed the legal framework that guides courts in evaluating challenges to redistricting plans under Section 2. This precedent allows Louisiana's arguments to proceed.
Finally, we are anticipating going back before the Middle District for the preliminary injunction hearing on October 3-5. Black voters deserve to be heard in the electoral process, not to be packed into one district or diluted across several districts by a congressional map that reduces their political power. We are continuing this fight to ensure that all people in Louisiana have the same right to vote and participate in the electoral process. The goal is to fulfill the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana for all Louisianaians.
The remedial hearing for the Robinson v. Ardoin case was scheduled for Oct. 3-5, Tuesday through Thursday of this week, but was canceled last Thursday.
The originally scheduled oral argument before the Fifth Circuit will still take place THIS Friday, Oct. 6 at 600 Camp Street in New Orleans.
Additional ContextL The case – Robinson v. Ardoin has been on hold while the United States Supreme Court weighed its decision in Alabama’s Allen v. Milligan case, which was nearly identical to Louisiana’s. SCOTUS ruled 5-4 in the Allen v. Milligan case on June 8, 2022, that Alabama’s maps did violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which paved the way for Robinson v. Ardoin to proceed the state of Louisiana’s violation of the Voting Rights Act in regards to its Congressional map.
If you plan to attend on the 6th, please read the graphic below. Let's Pack the Courts this Friday!
On June 26, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the temporary halt on the Robinson v Ardoin lawsuit, which had been paused in the Louisiana case. This pause occurred while the court was examining a similar challenge concerning Alabama's congressional map. The Supreme Court’s order of lifting the temporary halt on the lawsuit will allow Louisiana's challenge to continue ahead of time for the 2024 congressional elections.
"I do feel optimistic we are going to realize a second (majority-Black) district through this process," said Ashley Shelton, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, one of the groups challenging the maps. "It's a huge victory for the people of Louisiana."
On June 8, 2023 the Supreme Court ruled in Allen v. Milligan in favor of Black voters who challenged Alabama’s 2021-enacted congressional map.
This is a huge wins for voting rights and with this legal precedent, we will continue to make fair representation possible in Louisiana.” ~ Ashley K. Shelton, Founder and President Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
Thank you to all who stood in the fight. This is not the end but only the beginning💙
Redistricting News
News Updates
- Contiguity: Every district has to remain connected–they can’t “jump” from one place to another.
- Compactness: With few exceptions, districts shouldn’t be drawn in extremely odd shapes.
- Communities of Interest:This one can be very subjective, and is the most controversial. Generally, districts should try to keep populations that share interests--e.g., fishing communities--together as much as possible.
- Redistricting plays a critical role in who runs for office, who is elected, and how they vote once they’re in office.
- It’s one of the most important factors in determining who represents you and how they represent you.
who runs for office
who is elected
how they vote
- Your local, state, and federal elected representatives make decisions that impact your everyday life, like economic opportunity, healthcare, schools, roads, and so much more.
- The makeup of a district can significantly influence how and whether elected officials respond to a community’s needs.
- Redistricting only happens once every 10 years, and the policy impact can last even longer. We can’t miss this chance to demand fair and representative districts.
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Louisiana Legislature
- U.S. Congress
- State Senate & House
- State Supreme Court
- Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)
- Public Service Commission (PSC)
- The public plays a key role in determining how the redistricting process plays out and how the district lines are ultimately drawn.
- Submit comments during public redistricting hearings.
- Anyone can do it.
Local Governments
- City Council
- Parish Council
- Police Jury
- Judicial
