ACLU Voting Rights Project attorney Sarah Brannon said they’re extremely pleased with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the current congressional map violates the Voting Rights Act. It’s been ordered to be redrawn with two majority-Black districts. Brannon said the courts want the map finalized by May 2024 so…
“It would be logistically feasible for the State of Louisiana to run its November 2024 congressional election on the map,” said Brannon.
The ACLU of Louisiana, the Legal Defense Fund, and the NAACP filed the case against the state and the defendants include the Secretary of State, Louisiana’s Speaker of the House, the Senate President, and the Attorney General.
Judge Shelly Dick issued a January 15th deadline for the state to have a revised map and because a new legislature will be sworn-in January 8th Brannon said Dick could give defendants an extension if they file for one…
“Any self-extensions have to be small, short, and reasonable because they cannot get in the way of everybody involved moving in due course so that this will be completely resolved by May,” said Brannon.
Brannon said Governor John Bel Edwards has the authority to call the current legislature into a special session to meet the January deadline and Governor-elect Jeff Landry has indicated he plans to hold a special session for redistricting.
Brannon describes the map plaintiffs submitted to the courts that have two Black-majority districts.
“It would separate most of Baton Rouge from New Orleans in very general terms and create a new Congressional District 5 in the Baton Rouge area that would also have a Black majority and that is what we are looking for,” said Brannon.
The 2020 Census indicated that 33% of the state’s population is Black therefore two out of the state’s six congressional districts should be drawn so two minority congressional members can be elected.
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