Redistricting Battle Shifts to State and Local Levels

A national redistricting battle is moving from Congress to state legislatures and local governments after a Supreme Court ruling weakened minority voting protections. Georgia will hold a special session on June 17 to redraw districts for Congress, state legislature, and possibly its utility commission.

Mississippi and New York may follow, and the impact could extend to county commissions and city councils. The Supreme Court's April ruling struck down a majority-Black district in Louisiana, prompting potential changes in multiple states.

A report warns that Republicans could eliminate 191 Democratic-held legislative seats in the South. About half of states prohibit mid-decade redistricting, but others may see efforts to redraw maps.