A federal judge has ruled that Mississippi needs to redraw its electoral map for the Supreme Court due to its violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Announced on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ruled that the current map dilutes the voting power of Black voters in the state.
In her concluding statement, the judge found that, although Black people make up approximately 40% of Mississippi’s population, only four justices in the state’s history were Black.
All four were put into position by the governor and held the same seat in District 1. Justice Leslie King is the only Black Justice who is currently presiding over the courts.
The leaders of the Republican-led state attempted to argue that the map is satisfactory because Black voters make up a majority of voters in District 1.
Aycock, however, denied their claims, highlighting how the data did not take into account voter eligibility and the state’s strict laws on a lifetime ban for voters who had previously been convicted.
In her order, the judge drew comparisons between the map and the voter suppression of Black citizens from 1868 to 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed. A deadline will be set for the redrawing of the map. The state may appeal the order.
“The evidence reveals a history of voting-related discrimination in Mississippi and the utilization of voting practices and procedures that continue to enhance the opportunity to discriminate against or suppress the votes of Black Mississippians,” wrote the judge in her order per Reuters.
The latest ruling comes amidst news that the Republican-led Texas House approved new congressional maps that aim to add five more Republican seats in time for the midterm election.
House Democrats in the state abstained from voting and fled the state as they highlighted the maps as forms of gerrymandering and ways to dilute Black voting power.
In solidarity, California announced plans to redraw its own maps to counteract the addition of the five Republican seats.
Late last night, Governor Gavin Newsom signed several bills dedicated to redrawing the congressional maps in the state to help Democrats gain control of Congress during next year’s elections.
“They fired the first shot, Texas,” said Gov. Newsom when signing the bills, per the Washington Post. “We wouldn’t be here had Texas not done what they just did.”
California voters are now expected to vote to approve the changes in a special election set for November. An estimated $100 million in funds will be dedicated to campaigning throughout the 11 weeks until then.
