Statement on Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais
April 29, 2026 – Meredith Sumpter, president and CEO of FairVote, shared the following statement on the Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais:
“For more than six decades, the Voting Rights Act has protected our most sacrosanct rights as Americans and brought our founders’ highest ideals to life: the notion that every vote counts and all of us have an equal voice in our shared republic.
“The Court’s decision today turns back the clock. It will create a very different nation and dramatically reshape the face of representation nationwide, but especially in congressional delegations and state legislatures across the South.
“This is a decision with great impact on the lives of everyday Americans. Communities of color across the country may lose their ability to elect legislators and members of Congress who are responsive and accountable to their needs.
“There is no doubt that America has come a long way since the Voting Rights Act was enacted. But so much of our progress as a nation toward a truly fair and representative democracy is owed to the VRA.
“Yet hope is not lost. The struggle for equality and multiracial democracy is as old as this nation, and it will continue. The next round of this effort will require great determination and creative new solutions, including proportional, multi-member districts that give every community a seat at the table.
“FairVote stands ready to work with all of our partners in building a democracy in which all of us, regardless of our race or ethnicity, have equal voice and representation.”
###
FairVote is a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. We research and advance voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American.
