Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Louisiana v. Callais, which concerns equal representation for Black voters in Louisiana and the role of race in redistricting. The case came on appeal following a divided district court decision finding that Louisiana’s map, which included an additional majority-Black congressional district to remedy a likely Voting Rights Act (VRA) violation, was a racial gerrymander. A group of self-described “non-African American” voters asked the Supreme Court to strike down Louisiana lawmakers’ 2024 map, even though it complied with the Constitution and the VRA.
On the surface, a case about Black voters in Louisiana may not seem directly connected to voting rights in Montana, but studies have found that "extensive barriers restrict Native Americans from voting," and advocates see the Voting Rights Act as "an essential part of the fight for Native voting rights."
While both the Montana State Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court have ruled against efforts to disenfranchise Native American voters in Montana, it's likely that these attempts to restrict voting access will continue. When they do, the ACLU of Montana will be there, alongside amazing organizations like the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and Western Native Voice to fight back.
Click here to learn more about Louisiana v. Callais and click here for coverage of this week's oral arguments.