Louisiana suspends congressional primaries and discards ballots after map ruling
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · May 10
Louisiana suspends congressional primaries and discards ballots after map ruling
5 articles · Updated · CBS New York · May 10
Governor Jeff Landry said more than 45,000 returned ballots would be thrown out and voters would cast ballots again in November after the Supreme Court struck down the state's map.
Republican lawmakers are now redrawing districts, while Black voters and Democratic Representative Cleo Fields warn the changes could erase a majority-Black seat stretching from Baton Rouge to Shreveport.
The ruling has intensified a wider redistricting fight before the midterms, as both parties push new maps and legal experts warn repeated partisan redraws could further polarise Congress.
As states redraw maps, how is a 'colorblind' law balanced with demographic voting patterns?
With race-based districting restricted, what alternative methods can ensure fair representation for marginalized groups?
Louisiana Election Crisis: House Primaries Suspended, Ballots Discarded, and Voting Rights Act Undermined After Supreme Court Ruling
Overview
The Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, struck down Louisiana's 2024 congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, immediately finalizing its judgment and rejecting requests from Black voters to delay or reconsider. This ruling forced Governor Jeff Landry to suspend the state's U.S. House primaries, even after early voting had begun, creating confusion and legal challenges over discarded ballots and voter disenfranchisement. The crisis highlights the urgent need for new district maps and raises national concerns about weakened voting rights protections and the future of fair representation.