A recent ruling by the Supreme Court in Alexander v. South Carolina NAACP has weakened voting rights laws, marking the start of what could be a troubling season of rulings from the high court. The case involved South Carolina’s Republican legislators drawing district maps that diminished the influence of Black voters, with the state claiming it was partisan rather than racial gerrymandering. The Supreme Court sided with South Carolina, a decision that is seen to benefit Republicans and tilt governance towards white voters. This ruling is part of a broader trend of the court limiting democratic institutions and undoing the work of elected lawmakers.
In response to this ruling, there are calls for Congress to take action with legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act, which would ban partisan gerrymandering nationwide, and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would strengthen the Voting Rights Act. Citizens in Ohio are also considering a ballot measure to create a nonpartisan redistricting commission. These efforts have been encouraged by the Supreme Court itself, as Chief Justice John Roberts has acknowledged Congress’s power to address partisan gerrymandering.
Overall, there are growing concerns about the Supreme Court’s partisanship and its impact on democracy. Calls for reforming the court, including implementing an 18-year term for justices, are gaining momentum. The focus is shifting towards empowering voters and elected officials to shape the country’s future, rather than relying solely on the decisions of the Supreme Court.
Source
Photo credit www.brennancenter.org