ACLU of Illinois Responds to Supreme Court Decision Further Gutting Voting Rights Act

The Supreme Court of the United States earlier today struck down Louisiana’s congressional map and issued a ruling that eviscerates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The decision also opens the door for states to enact discriminatory maps with impunity. As a result, Black voters and other voters of color could face the elimination of districts across the country that have provided fair representation.

The ACLU of Illinois issued the following statement in response to the decision:

Today’s Supreme Court decision continues the gutting of the Voting Rights Act that started in 2013 when the Court ruled in Shelby County v. Holder. It is truly unfortunate to see the repeated attacks on the VRA – arguably the most successful civil rights legislation in our nation’s history.

The Court’s decision today undermines the fundamental right to vote and elect representatives who reflect the interests and views of their community. While the Court attempts to disguise the destructive scope of its decision, the impact of today’s ruling will be felt far beyond the state of Louisiana. Already today we are seeing elected officials and political activists call for gross gerrymandering of maps in states beyond Louisiana in reaction to the green light from the Court. The result will be a leap backwards in the progress our nation has made on voting rights, and a diminution of the minority representation in the halls of Congress, state legislatures, and even local offices.

This decision makes it critical that advocates work in states like Illinois to protect access to the ballot and increase minority representation it has taken a generation to build and protect. Our state must continue to be a place where our electorate and elected officials reflect the multicultural society in which we live.