Campaign Legal Center’s Bruce V. Spiva Responds to U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling Eviscerating the Voting Rights Act
WASHINGTON — Today, in a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision gutting what remained of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), one of the most significant civil rights laws ever passed.
Campaign Legal Center submitted amicus briefs in 2024 and 2025 to ensure that Section 2, one of the most important federal civil rights provisions in this country’s history, could continue to protect voters.
Bruce V. Spiva, senior vice president of Campaign Legal Center, issued the following statement:
“Unmoored from the will of Congress, the text of the Voting Rights Act, and the Constitution, the Supreme Court has dealt a devastating blow to our multiracial democracy and the right of every American to make their voice heard.
“Since its passage, the Voting Rights Act has been critical in ensuring that no American is denied access to the ballot box or an opportunity for representation because of their race. This landmark civil rights law made real the promise of the 15th Amendment. The Court’s decision today threatens to turn back the clock on the progress we have made as a nation in eliminating racial discrimination in voting nationwide.
“The disputed Louisiana map was created to comply with the VRA to ensure that Black voters in Louisiana could have an opportunity to elect their representatives of choice. Under this map, in 2024, Black Louisianans were able to elect two of their candidates of choice for the first time in history. The Supreme Court’s decision appears to clear the way for Louisiana (and other states across the nation) to continue engaging in the discriminatory practice of vote dilution.
“This decision is not the end of this fight; the march for fair maps and voters’ rights will not end with this setback. It is time for Congress to take action and states to shore up voting rights protections. Campaign Legal Center will continue using every tool at our disposal to fight for fair representation and protect every American’s freedom to participate meaningfully in the democratic process.”
BACKGROUND:
The VRA instituted a nationwide ban on racially discriminatory voting laws and practices and created opportunities for communities of color to elect their candidates of choice across the country. Since its passage in 1965, the VRA has created a sea change for communities that previously had been shut out of the voting process, particularly in the South, and which previously had no realistic opportunity to elect their representatives of choice.
In particular, the Court has overridden the will of Congress, which 40 years ago made clear that the VRA bars racially discriminatory voting laws, whether they were passed intentionally based on race, or if they had a racially discriminatory effect. The Court has now defined “intentional” racial discrimination in a way that greenlights redistricting that seeks to dilute the votes of communities of color based on the party for which they vote.
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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.
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