Skip to page content
Power & PoliticsUnited States edition
Sections
Only your five-digit ZIP code is sent. We never ask for your address.
Independent · nonpartisan
Voting history · Louisiana

Louisiana

A dated list of changes to how Americans vote: district maps, polling places and drop boxes, voting laws and rules, and courts and election officials. Each entry says who did what and when, shows what became of it, and links to the page it rests on. Attempts that failed are listed as failed. Entries that rest on a news report name the outlet.

This is the state view: events recorded for Louisiana, then national events that apply here. See the national timeline.

Congressional districts in Louisiana

Choose a district to see the events tagged to it. A number after the district is how many events name it.

Kind of event
Decade

In Louisiana

2026

  1. Oct 23, 2026 State Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Justice Department confirms it will send election monitors to Louisiana; state says it has had no official notice

    The Louisiana Illuminator reported on October 26, 2026 that a spokesman for the Louisiana Secretary of State said on Friday, October 23, that state officials were "indirectly informed" the Justice Department will send election monitors to certain jurisdictions for the November 3 election, but had received no official notice or list of parishes. A Justice Department representative told the Illuminator by email that day that the department will have monitors in all 50 states.

    Related: Justice Department begins notifying counties it wants to monitor on Election Day 2026

    Source last checked Oct 26, 2026

  2. Sep 29, 2026 County Laws and rules Decided by a court

    Court finds plausible equal protection claims over Lafayette Parish's requests for proof of citizenship

    In its September 29, 2026 ruling the court found that plaintiffs "plausibly alleged that Lafayette Parish's requests for proof of citizenship discriminate based on national origin and disparately treat similarly situated voters based on parish of residence in violation of the Equal Protection Clause," and denied the motion to dismiss on that argument. It also held the constitutional claims ripe because of Lafayette Parish's requests.

    Related: Federal court lets challenges to Act 500 proceed in part

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Sep 29, 2026 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Federal court lets challenges to Act 500 proceed in part

    On September 29, 2026 the Middle District of Louisiana granted in part and denied in part a motion to dismiss in League of Women Voters of Louisiana v. Landry. It dismissed the National Voter Registration Act claims without prejudice for lack of adequate notice, but found that plaintiffs plausibly alleged that Act 500 "does not sufficiently explain how voter registration applicants can comply with it," and gave leave to amend.

    Related: Louisiana Act 500 requires proof of citizenship with a voter registration application · Court finds plausible equal protection claims over Lafayette Parish's requests for proof of citizenship

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  4. Sep 24, 2026 State Laws and rules Pending

    New Orleans asks the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Louisiana ruling on the Orleans clerk's office

    The Supreme Court's docket for City of New Orleans v. Napoleon (No. 26-425), docketed September 28, 2026, lists the Louisiana Supreme Court decision of June 1, 2026 (No. 2026-CD-00594) with rehearing denied June 26, 2026. It records the petition for a writ of certiorari filed September 24, 2026, and a waiver by respondent Chelsey Richard Napoleon, Clerk of Court, Orleans Parish, of the right to respond, filed October 8, 2026. As of the docket page read October 24, 2026, no further entry was listed.

    Related: Louisiana Supreme Court rules on Act 15 and the Orleans clerk; New Orleans seeks U.S. Supreme Court review · Act 15 abolishes the elected Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. Jun 1, 2026 County Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Louisiana Supreme Court rules on Act 15 and the Orleans clerk; New Orleans seeks U.S. Supreme Court review

    The Louisiana Supreme Court consolidated challenges to Act 15 on May 14, 2026 and issued a per curiam decision on June 1, 2026, denying rehearing on June 26. On September 24, 2026 the City of New Orleans, its mayor and council president and an interim clerk appointed by the City Council petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court (No. 26-425), asking whether Act 15 violates due process and equal protection by nullifying the 2025 election.

    Related: Act 15 abolishes the elected Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk · New Orleans asks the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Louisiana ruling on the Orleans clerk's office

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. May 29, 2026 State Maps and lines Enacted

    Legislature passes a new congressional map with one majority-Black district; U.S. House primaries move to November 3

    WHQR reported on May 29, 2026 that Louisiana lawmakers passed a congressional map that dismantles the majority-Black district running from Baton Rouge to Shreveport and keeps one majority-Black district covering most of New Orleans. The rescheduled primaries for the six U.S. House seats are set for November 3.

    Related: Governor suspends U.S. House primaries after the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais · Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  7. May 8, 2026 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Judges deny a three-judge court in the suit over suspended House primaries; case moved to the Western District

    On May 8, 2026, a panel of Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan and District Judges Greg Guidry and Shelly Dick denied the plaintiffs' motion to convene a three-judge court in Garcia v. Landry: "Because Plaintiffs do not raise a direct challenge to the apportionment of any congressional districts ... their Motion to Convene a Three-Judge District Court is DENIED for want of jurisdiction." The same day, Chief Judge Dick granted the defendants' motion to transfer venue and ordered the case "TRANSFERRED in its entirety to the Western District of Louisiana."

    Related: Voters sue in federal court over the Governor's suspension of Louisiana's 2026 U.S. House primaries · Governor suspends U.S. House primaries after the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  8. May 7, 2026 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Fifth Circuit vacates its ruling and the order against the state legislative maps, in light of Callais

    On May 7, 2026, in Nairne v. Landry, the Fifth Circuit wrote that after its panel ruled and a rehearing petition was filed, it held the case pending Louisiana v. Callais; "we vacate our prior opinion, vacate the district court's decision, and remand to the district court for consideration of this case in light of the recent Supreme Court decision."

    Related: Federal court finds the 2022 Louisiana House and Senate maps violate Section 2 · Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  9. Apr 30, 2026 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Governor suspends U.S. House primaries after the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais

    On April 30, 2026, a day after the Supreme Court decided Louisiana v. Callais, Governor Jeff Landry signed Executive Order 26-038 suspending the primary elections for U.S. Representative until July 15, 2026 or a time designated by the Legislature. The U.S. Senate primary scheduled for May 16 was not affected.

    Related: Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais · Legislature passes a new congressional map with one majority-Black district; U.S. House primaries move to November 3

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  10. Apr 30, 2026 State Courts and officials Pending

    Voters sue in federal court over the Governor's suspension of Louisiana's 2026 U.S. House primaries

    On April 30, 2026, Lindsay Garcia, a voter and Democratic candidate for the 5th congressional district, and voter Eugene Collins sued Governor Jeff Landry, Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill and Secretary of State Nancy Landry in the Middle District of Louisiana (No. 3:26-cv-471). The court later described the complaint as challenging "the constitutionality of Executive Order JML 26-038, which cancels the federal congressional primaries slated to proceed under the apportionment map the Supreme Court declared constitutionally defective in Callais." Other suits over the same order were filed in the following days.

    Congressional districts named: LA-5

    Related: Governor suspends U.S. House primaries after the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais · Judges deny a three-judge court in the suit over suspended House primaries; case moved to the Western District

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  11. Apr 30, 2026 County Laws and rules Enacted

    Act 15 abolishes the elected Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk

    According to the City of New Orleans's petition to the Supreme Court, voters elected Calvin Duncan Criminal Clerk, an office that included serving as chief elections officer for Orleans Parish, in a November 15, 2025 runoff. Governor Jeff Landry signed Act 15 of the 2026 Regular Session on April 30, 2026, abolishing the office and transferring its duties to the Civil Clerk. The petition says this "effectively erased the votes cast by New Orleanians."

    Related: Louisiana Supreme Court rules on Act 15 and the Orleans clerk; New Orleans seeks U.S. Supreme Court review

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  12. Apr 14, 2026 State Courts and officials Pending

    Louisiana sues the federal Election Assistance Commission over proof-of-citizenship language on the federal form

    On April 14, 2026 the State of Louisiana, through the Attorney General, and Secretary of State Nancy Landry sued the Election Assistance Commission in the Western District of Louisiana. The complaint alleges the Commission barred Louisiana from implementing Act 500 because "Louisiana failed to prove that it was 'necessary'" to adopt it, and seeks a declaration that the action is unlawful.

    Related: Louisiana Act 500 requires proof of citizenship with a voter registration application · Federal court lets challenges to Act 500 proceed in part

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2025

  1. Aug 14, 2025 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Fifth Circuit affirms ruling that Louisiana's 2022 legislative maps violate Section 2

    On August 14, 2025, a Fifth Circuit panel (Dennis, Haynes and Ramirez) decided Nairne v. Landry, No. 24-30115, an appeal from the Middle District of Louisiana. The per curiam opinion describes the district court as concluding that S.B. 1 and H.B. 14 "violated § 2 by 'packing' Black voters into a small number of majority-Black districts and 'cracking' other Black communities," and states: "For the reasons that follow, we AFFIRM."

    Related: Federal court finds the 2022 Louisiana House and Senate maps violate Section 2 · Fifth Circuit vacates its ruling and the order against the state legislative maps, in light of Callais

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

2024

  1. Apr 30, 2024 State Courts and officials Struck down

    Three-judge federal court strikes down S.B. 8, the congressional map with two majority-Black districts

    On April 30, 2024, in Callais v. Landry, a three-judge court of the Western District of Louisiana wrote: "we conclude that District 6 of SB8 violates the Equal Protection Clause. Accordingly, the State is enjoined from using SB8 in any future elections." The Supreme Court decided the case on April 29, 2026.

    Congressional districts named: LA-6

    Related: Legislature passes S.B. 8, a congressional map with a second majority-Black district · Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Feb 8, 2024 State Courts and officials Struck down

    Federal court finds the 2022 Louisiana House and Senate maps violate Section 2

    On February 8, 2024, after a trial in November and December 2023, the Middle District of Louisiana ruled in Nairne v. Ardoin: "the Court finds that Plaintiffs have satisfied their burden of proving that the Louisiana State House and Senate electoral maps enacted by the Louisiana Legislature (S.B. 1 and H.B. 14) violate 2 of the VRA."

    Related: Fifth Circuit vacates its ruling and the order against the state legislative maps, in light of Callais

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Jan 22, 2024 State Maps and lines Enacted

    Legislature passes S.B. 8, a congressional map with a second majority-Black district

    Governor Jeff Landry called a special session starting January 8, 2024 to legislate on congressional redistricting. The product, S.B. 8, passed January 22, 2024. It kept the New Orleans-area majority-Black district and added District 6, which links Black populations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Shreveport, according to the Supreme Court.

    Congressional districts named: LA-6

    Related: Three-judge federal court strikes down S.B. 8, the congressional map with two majority-Black districts · Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  4. 2024 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Louisiana Act 500 requires proof of citizenship with a voter registration application

    Act 500 (S.B. 436) of the 2024 Regular Session, signed by Governor Jeff Landry and effective January 1, 2025, adds to Louisiana law that "[e]ach applicant shall include with his application proof of United States citizenship" and lists non-citizens as ineligible voters, according to the State's federal complaint.

    Related: Voters approve a constitutional amendment clarifying that U.S. citizenship is required to register · Louisiana sues the federal Election Assistance Commission over proof-of-citizenship language on the federal form · Federal court lets challenges to Act 500 proceed in part

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  5. 2024 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Louisiana adopts closed party primaries for Congress and several statewide offices starting in 2026

    The Secretary of State's office states that the Legislature implemented closed party primaries through Act 1 of the 2024 First Extraordinary Session, beginning in 2026, limited to the offices of U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2023

  1. Nov 10, 2023 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Fifth Circuit says the injunction was valid but no longer needed, and gives the Legislature until January 15, 2024

    On November 10, 2023 the Fifth Circuit held that "The district court did not clearly err in its necessary fact-findings nor commit legal error" in finding the plaintiffs likely to succeed on their Section 2 claim, but that the 2022 injunction "is no longer necessary." It allowed the Legislature until January 15, 2024 to enact a new congressional plan, failing which the district court would proceed to trial and, if needed, adopt a plan.

    Related: Federal court blocks the 2022 congressional map, finding plaintiffs likely to prove a Section 2 violation · Legislature passes S.B. 8, a congressional map with a second majority-Black district

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. May 1, 2023 State Courts and officials Pending

    Voting rights groups sue over proof requirement for "suspended" voters with past felony convictions

    On May 1, 2023, Voice of the Experienced, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and the League of Women Voters of Louisiana filed suit in the Middle District of Louisiana, alleging that requiring "suspended" voters to provide documentary proof of eligibility, while other similarly situated voters need not, violates the National Voter Registration Act and the Equal Protection Clause.

    Related: Louisiana Act 127 removes the paperwork requirement for restoring voting rights

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2022

  1. Jun 28, 2022 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court stays the order blocking Louisiana's 2022 congressional map

    On June 28, 2022 the Supreme Court granted Louisiana's application (No. 21A814): "The district court's June 6, 2022 preliminary injunctions in No. 3:22-CV-211 and No. 3:22-CV-214 are stayed." It treated the application as a petition for certiorari before judgment, granted it, and held the case in abeyance pending its decision in Merrill v. Milligan. Justices Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan would have denied the application.

    Related: Federal court blocks the 2022 congressional map, finding plaintiffs likely to prove a Section 2 violation · Fifth Circuit says the injunction was valid but no longer needed, and gives the Legislature until January 15, 2024

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Jun 6, 2022 State Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal court blocks the 2022 congressional map, finding plaintiffs likely to prove a Section 2 violation

    On June 6, 2022, in Robinson v. Ardoin, the Middle District of Louisiana concluded that "Plaintiffs are substantially likely to prevail on the merits of their claims brought under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act" and issued a preliminary injunction against use of the H.B. 1 map. The Supreme Court later stayed the injunction pending its decision in the Alabama case.

    Related: Legislature overrides veto of the 2022 congressional map, H.B. 1 · Fifth Circuit says the injunction was valid but no longer needed, and gives the Legislature until January 15, 2024 · Supreme Court decides Allen v. Milligan

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Mar 30, 2022 State Maps and lines Enacted

    Legislature overrides veto of the 2022 congressional map, H.B. 1

    Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed H.B. 1 and S.B. 5 on March 9, 2022. The Legislature voted to override on March 30, 2022. H.B. 1 kept a single majority-Black congressional district. Plaintiffs filed suit in the Middle District of Louisiana the same day.

    Related: Federal court blocks the 2022 congressional map, finding plaintiffs likely to prove a Section 2 violation · Fifth Circuit says the injunction was valid but no longer needed, and gives the Legislature until January 15, 2024

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  4. 2022 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Voters approve a constitutional amendment clarifying that U.S. citizenship is required to register

    The State of Louisiana's 2026 complaint against the Election Assistance Commission states that in 2022 Louisiana voters passed a constitutional amendment clarifying that United States citizenship is a requirement to register to vote (Act No. 279, 2022 Regular Session).

    Related: Louisiana Act 500 requires proof of citizenship with a voter registration application

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2021

  1. Sep 9, 2021 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Governor delays fall 2021 elections after Hurricane Ida

    KSLA reported that on September 9, 2021 Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order moving the October 9 election to November 13 and the November 13 election to December 11, after Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin certified that holding the elections as scheduled would impair their integrity in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which made landfall August 29.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Apr 14, 2021 County Maps and lines Settled

    Justice Department and West Monroe settle a Section 2 suit over at-large aldermen elections

    On April 14, 2021 the United States sued the City of West Monroe, in Ouachita Parish, alleging that the at-large method of electing its board of aldermen violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and filed a proposed consent decree. The decree creates three single-member districts and keeps two members at large. The Department's case page says the court signed and entered the decree on April 15.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. 2021 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Louisiana Act 127 removes the paperwork requirement for restoring voting rights

    The complaint in Voice of the Experienced v. Ardoin states that in 2021 the Legislature passed Act 127 (H.B. 378), which deleted the requirement that a person submit documentation to the registrar, so that a person under an order of imprisonment for a felony who has not been incarcerated in the last five years is eligible to vote regardless of whether they present proof of eligibility.

    Related: Louisiana Act 636 lets people on probation or parole vote after five years without incarceration · Voting rights groups sue over proof requirement for "suspended" voters with past felony convictions

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2020

  1. Jun 22, 2020 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Federal court dismisses suits over Louisiana's COVID-19 mail voting rules for lack of standing

    On June 22, 2020, Chief Judge Shelly Dick granted the Attorney General's motion to dismiss Clark v. Edwards and Power Coalition v. Edwards, which challenged the excuse and witness requirements for absentee voting by mail under the Emergency Election Plan. The court wrote: "Plaintiffs' claims against all Defendants are dismissed with prejudice." The dismissal rested on standing.

    Related: Governor reschedules spring 2020 elections because of COVID-19

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Mar 13, 2020 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Governor reschedules spring 2020 elections because of COVID-19

    By proclamation No. 28 JBE 2020 of March 13, 2020 and a later proclamation, Governor John Bel Edwards rescheduled elections set for April 4 and May 9, 2020 to July 11 and August 15, 2020, according to the federal court ruling in Clark v. Edwards. On April 27, 2020 the Legislature approved an Emergency Election Plan from Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin that added five COVID-19-related excuses for absentee voting by mail.

    Related: Federal court dismisses suits over Louisiana's COVID-19 mail voting rules for lack of standing

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2019

  1. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Allen Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Allen Parish had 22 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 21 in 2018, a change of -1 (-5%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 more polling places in Ascension Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Ascension Parish had 34 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 37 in 2018, a change of +3 (9%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in Assumption Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Assumption Parish had 17 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 15 in 2018, a change of -2 (-12%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Avoyelles Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Avoyelles Parish had 28 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 27 in 2018, a change of -1 (-4%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 fewer polling places in Bienville Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Bienville Parish had 21 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 18 in 2018, a change of -3 (-14%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in Bossier Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Bossier Parish had 50 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 48 in 2018, a change of -2 (-4%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  7. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 6 fewer polling places in Caddo Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Caddo Parish had 88 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 82 in 2018, a change of -6 (-7%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  8. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 4 fewer polling places in Calcasieu Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Calcasieu Parish had 78 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 74 in 2018, a change of -4 (-5%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  9. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 more polling place in Cameron Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Cameron Parish had 8 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 9 in 2018, a change of +1 (13%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  10. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Catahoula Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Catahoula Parish had 16 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 15 in 2018, a change of -1 (-6%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  11. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Concordia Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Concordia Parish had 18 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 17 in 2018, a change of -1 (-6%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  12. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in De Soto Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that De Soto Parish had 27 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 25 in 2018, a change of -2 (-7%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  13. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 10 fewer polling places in East Baton Rouge Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that East Baton Rouge Parish had 147 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 137 in 2018, a change of -10 (-7%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  14. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in East Carroll Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that East Carroll Parish had 14 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 13 in 2018, a change of -1 (-7%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  15. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 fewer polling places in Evangeline Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Evangeline Parish had 33 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 30 in 2018, a change of -3 (-9%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  16. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Grant Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Grant Parish had 15 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 14 in 2018, a change of -1 (-7%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  17. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in Iberville Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Iberville Parish had 25 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 23 in 2018, a change of -2 (-8%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  18. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Jefferson Davis Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Jefferson Davis Parish had 15 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 14 in 2018, a change of -1 (-7%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  19. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 25 fewer polling places in Jefferson Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Jefferson Parish had 170 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 145 in 2018, a change of -25 (-15%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  20. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 10 fewer polling places in Lafayette Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Lafayette Parish had 58 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 48 in 2018, a change of -10 (-17%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  21. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Lafourche Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Lafourche Parish had 48 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 47 in 2018, a change of -1 (-2%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  22. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in LaSalle Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that LaSalle Parish had 23 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 22 in 2018, a change of -1 (-4%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  23. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in Lincoln Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Lincoln Parish had 26 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 24 in 2018, a change of -2 (-8%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  24. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Livingston Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Livingston Parish had 37 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 36 in 2018, a change of -1 (-3%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  25. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 fewer polling places in Morehouse Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Morehouse Parish had 21 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 18 in 2018, a change of -3 (-14%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  26. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Natchitoches Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Natchitoches Parish had 42 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 41 in 2018, a change of -1 (-2%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  27. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 5 fewer polling places in Orleans Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Orleans Parish had 129 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 124 in 2018, a change of -5 (-4%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  28. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Ouachita Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Ouachita Parish had 50 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 49 in 2018, a change of -1 (-2%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  29. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Plaquemines Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Plaquemines Parish had 10 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 9 in 2018, a change of -1 (-10%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  30. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in Pointe Coupee Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Pointe Coupee Parish had 21 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 19 in 2018, a change of -2 (-10%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  31. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Rapides Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Rapides Parish had 69 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 68 in 2018, a change of -1 (-1%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  32. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Red River Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Red River Parish had 13 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 12 in 2018, a change of -1 (-8%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  33. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Richland Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Richland Parish had 17 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 16 in 2018, a change of -1 (-6%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  34. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in Sabine Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Sabine Parish had 30 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 28 in 2018, a change of -2 (-7%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  35. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 fewer polling places in St. Charles Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that St. Charles Parish had 26 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 23 in 2018, a change of -3 (-12%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  36. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in St. James Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that St. James Parish had 13 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 12 in 2018, a change of -1 (-8%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  37. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 fewer polling places in St. Landry Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that St. Landry Parish had 59 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 56 in 2018, a change of -3 (-5%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  38. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 fewer polling places in St. Martin Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that St. Martin Parish had 31 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 28 in 2018, a change of -3 (-10%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  39. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 3 more polling places in St. Tammany Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that St. Tammany Parish had 61 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 64 in 2018, a change of +3 (5%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  40. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Tensas Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Tensas Parish had 9 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 8 in 2018, a change of -1 (-11%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  41. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 7 fewer polling places in Terrebonne Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Terrebonne Parish had 57 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 50 in 2018, a change of -7 (-12%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  42. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in Union Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Union Parish had 22 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 21 in 2018, a change of -1 (-5%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  43. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 2 fewer polling places in Vermilion Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Vermilion Parish had 30 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 28 in 2018, a change of -2 (-7%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  44. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 1 fewer polling place in West Baton Rouge Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that West Baton Rouge Parish had 16 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 15 in 2018, a change of -1 (-6%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  45. September 2019 County Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Report counts 5 fewer polling places in Winn Parish in 2018 than in 2012

    The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a civil rights coalition, reported in September 2019 that Winn Parish had 21 Election Day polling places in the 2012 general election and 16 in 2018, a change of -5 (-24%). The report lists the 2012 count as from the Election Assistance Commission's Election Administration and Voting Survey and the 2018 count as from a hand count of polling-place lists. The report covers counties once covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2018

  1. 2018 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Louisiana Act 636 lets people on probation or parole vote after five years without incarceration

    According to the complaint in Voice of the Experienced v. Ardoin, 2018 La. Act No. 636 (H.B. 265) made people with felony convictions who had not been incarcerated for at least five years eligible to register, which "opened the door to voting rights restoration for approximately 30,000 Louisianans on either probation or parole." Initially they had to submit documentation from the Department of Corrections to a registrar.

    Related: Louisiana Act 127 removes the paperwork requirement for restoring voting rights · Voting rights groups sue over proof requirement for "suspended" voters with past felony convictions

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2011

  1. Oct 3, 2011 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to East Feliciana Parish's 2011 redistricting plan

    On October 3, 2011 the Justice Department wrote that, "on behalf of the Attorney General, I must object" to the 2011 redistricting plan for East Feliciana Parish, whose population was 45.1 percent African American under the 2010 Census. The Department's list shows it as the most recent Louisiana determination letter.

    Related: Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2006

  1. Mar 16, 2006 State Polling places and drop boxes Decided by a court

    Justice Department precleared the New Orleans election plan; a federal judge declined to postpone the April 22 election

    The Congressional Research Service reported that the New Orleans election plan "received Justice Department preclearance on March 16, as required by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; but objections were raised because the state did not set up polling places outside the state where there are large numbers of displaced New Orleanians." A state Senate committee considered a bill for out-of-state polling places in March but took no further action. Judge Lemelle heard complaints from civil rights groups on March 27 "but declined to postpone it." About 108,000 voters took part on April 22 and 113,591 ballots were cast in the May 20 runoff.

    Related: Governor postpones New Orleans mayoral and council elections after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, then reschedules them for April and May 2006

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

2005

  1. December 2005 State Polling places and drop boxes Enacted

    Governor postpones New Orleans mayoral and council elections after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, then reschedules them for April and May 2006

    The Congressional Research Service reported that mayoral and city council elections in New Orleans set for February 4, 2006 (primary) and March 4 (runoff) were "postponed indefinitely last December by Governor Kathleen Blanco because of the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," and that in January 2006 the Governor rescheduled them for April 22 and May 20. It states that U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle "had warned state officials that he would step in to protect voters' rights under federal law if the elections were not rescheduled." The League of Women Voters of New Orleans was cited as saying 295 of 442 polling places were destroyed.

    Related: Justice Department precleared the New Orleans election plan; a federal judge declined to postpone the April 22 election

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Apr 25, 2005 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Delhi (Richland Parish): 2003 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated April 25, 2005, to Delhi (Richland Parish). The list describes the change as "2003 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2004

  1. Jun 4, 2004 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Ville Platte (Evangeline Parish): 2003 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated June 4, 2004, to Ville Platte (Evangeline Parish). The list describes the change as "2003 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2003

  1. Dec 12, 2003 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Plaquemine (Iberville Parish): 2003 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 12, 2003, to Plaquemine (Iberville Parish). The list describes the change as "2003 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Oct 6, 2003 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Tangipahoa Parish: 2003 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 6, 2003, to Tangipahoa Parish. The list describes the change as "2003 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. May 13, 2003 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Richland Parish School District: 2002 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated May 13, 2003, to Richland Parish School District. The list describes the change as "2002 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2002

  1. Dec 31, 2002 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in DeSoto Parish School District (DeSoto Parish): 2002 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 31, 2002, to DeSoto Parish School District (DeSoto Parish). The list describes the change as "2002 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Oct 4, 2002 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Pointe Coupee Parish School District (Pointe Coupee Parish): 2002 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 4, 2002, to Pointe Coupee Parish School District (Pointe Coupee Parish). The list describes the change as "2002 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Jul 26, 2002 County Laws and rules Enacted

    Federal determination requires election materials for the American Indian (Other Tribe specified) language group in Allen Parish, Louisiana

    The Director of the Census Bureau's notice, published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2002 (67 FR 48871), lists Allen Parish, Louisiana, as covered by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act for this language minority group: American Indian (Other Tribe specified). The notice says covered jurisdictions have a legal obligation to provide the minority language assistance that Section 203 prescribes; its table is titled bilingual election materials for voting rights. The county's name does not appear in the county listings of the 2011 notice (76 FR 63602).

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. Jul 2, 2002 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Minden (Webster Parish): 2001 council redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated July 2, 2002, to Minden (Webster Parish). The list describes the change as "2001 council redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2000

  1. Aug 16, 2000 County Maps and lines Settled

    Court enters consent decree moving Morgan City council elections from at-large to single-member districts

    In a complaint filed June 27, 2000, the Justice Department alleged that the at-large method of electing Morgan City, Louisiana, city councilmembers diluted black voting strength in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. On August 16, 2000, the court entered a consent decree, filed simultaneously with the complaint, that changed the method of election from at-large to five single-member districts, one of which gave black voters an opportunity to elect a representative of choice.

    Counties: St. Mary Parish, St. Martin Parish

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Jun 2, 2000 County Maps and lines Withdrawn

    Justice Department files cross-claim against St. Martinville over council redistricting

    On June 2, 2000, the Justice Department filed a cross-claim against the City of St. Martinville, Louisiana, in Greig v. City of St. Martinville (W.D. La.), alleging a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in the city's redistricting process in the 1990s. The case was resolved when the city adopted a new plan prepared by the court's special master, which received Section 5 preclearance, and the suit was voluntarily dismissed on July 19, 2001.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1999

  1. Apr 27, 1999 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Washington Parish: Redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated April 27, 1999, to Washington Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1997

  1. Oct 6, 1997 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in St. Martinville (St. Martin Parish): 1997 redistricting plan (councilmanic)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 6, 1997, to St. Martinville (St. Martin Parish). The list describes the change as "1997 redistricting plan (councilmanic)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Jun 9, 1997 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Shreveport City court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes): Three annexations (Ordinance Nos. 188, 189 and 192 (1996))

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated June 9, 1997, to Shreveport City court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes). The list describes the change as "Three annexations (Ordinance Nos. 188, 189 and 192 (1996))." The list adds the note "Withdrawn 8-25-97, upon change in method of election." The list links the objection letter.

    Counties: Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Apr 11, 1997 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes): Annexation (Ordinance No. 207 (1995)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated April 11, 1997, to Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes). The list describes the change as "Annexation (Ordinance No. 207 (1995)." The list adds the note "Withdrawn 8-25-97, upon change in method of election." The list links the objection letter.

    Counties: Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1996

  1. Oct 24, 1996 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes): Two annexations (Ordinance Nos. 205 and 206 (1995))

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 24, 1996, to Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes). The list describes the change as "Two annexations (Ordinance Nos. 205 and 206 (1995))." The list adds the note "Withdrawn 8-25-97, upon change in method of election." The list links the objection letter.

    Counties: Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Aug 12, 1996 State Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to the 1996 congressional plan with one majority-Black district

    On August 12, 1996 the Justice Department objected to Act 96 of the 1996 First Extraordinary Session, writing that "on behalf of the Attorney General, I must object" to the plan "to the extent that the proposed redistricting plan fails to create a second congressional district in Louisiana in which black voters have a reasonable opportunity to elect candidates of choice." The letter drew on the Hays v. Louisiana litigation.

    Related: Supreme Court holds the Hays plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge Louisiana's Act 1 map

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1995

  1. Dec 11, 1995 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes): Annexation (Ordinance No. 115 (1995))

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 11, 1995, to Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes). The list describes the change as "Annexation (Ordinance No. 115 (1995))." The list adds the note "Withdrawn 8-25-97, upon change in method of election." The list links the objection letter.

    Counties: Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Sep 11, 1995 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes): 11 annexations

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 11, 1995, to Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes). The list describes the change as "11 annexations." The list adds the note "Withdrawn 8-25-97, upon change in method of election." The list links the objection letter.

    Counties: Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Jul 18, 1995 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Webster Parish: Reduction in the size of the police jury members from 12 to 7

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated July 18, 1995, to Webster Parish. The list describes the change as "Reduction in the size of the police jury members from 12 to 7." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. Jun 29, 1995 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court holds the Hays plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge Louisiana's Act 1 map

    On June 29, 1995, in United States v. Hays, the Supreme Court held: "Appellees lack standing to challenge Act 1." The plaintiffs lived in District 5, not in the challenged District 4, and the Court found no evidence that they personally suffered a racial classification. A three-judge court later reiterated its findings and ordered a court-drawn plan.

    Congressional districts named: LA-4, LA-5

    Related: Legislature repeals Act 42 and passes Act 1, another map with two majority-Black districts · Attorney General objects to the 1996 congressional plan with one majority-Black district

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  5. Apr 3, 1995 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Ville Platte (Evangeline Parish): 1994 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated April 3, 1995, to Ville Platte (Evangeline Parish). The list describes the change as "1994 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1994

  1. Nov 22, 1994 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Winnsboro (Franklin Parish): 1993 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated November 22, 1994, to Winnsboro (Franklin Parish). The list describes the change as "1993 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Nov 21, 1994 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to a picture ID requirement for first-time voters who register by mail

    On November 21, 1994 the Justice Department precleared most of Act 10 (1994), the state's implementation of the National Voter Registration Act, but wrote: "on behalf of the Attorney General, I must object to the driver's license/picture identification requirement for first-time voters who register by mail proposed by Act No. 10." It cited data indicating that Black persons in the state were four to five times less likely than white persons to have such identification.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Oct 17, 1994 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Minden (Webster Parish): Redistricting

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 17, 1994, to Minden (Webster Parish). The list describes the change as "Redistricting." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. Sep 12, 1994 County Polling places and drop boxes Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in St. Landry Parish: Polling place change

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 12, 1994, to St. Landry Parish. The list describes the change as "Polling place change." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. Sep 6, 1994 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 6, 1994, to Shreveport City Court (Bossier and Caddo Parishes). The list describes the change as "Act No. 6 (1968), provides that annexations to the City of Shreveport extend the boundaries of the Shreveport City Court; Act No. 15 (1970)--creation of the third judgeship and its implementation schedule, including August and November 1970 special elections; Act No. 501 (1992)--creation of a fourth judgeship and the method of election consisting of one single-member district and one triple-member district elected by designated position; multiple annexations." The list adds the note "Withdrawn 8-19-97, as to Act no. 6 (1968) and creation of 3rd and 4th judgeships,Withdrawn 8-25-97, as to annexations upon change in method of election." The list links the objection letter.

    Counties: Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. Aug 19, 1994 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in East Carroll Parish School District: 1994 redistricting plan (school board)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated August 19, 1994, to East Carroll Parish School District. The list describes the change as "1994 redistricting plan (school board)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  7. Apr 25, 1994 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in DeSoto Parish School District: 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated April 25, 1994, to DeSoto Parish School District. The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1993

  1. Dec 13, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Ville Platte (Evangeline Parish): 1993 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 13, 1993, to Ville Platte (Evangeline Parish). The list describes the change as "1993 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Nov 24, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Iberville Parish School District (Iberville Parish): 1993 redistricting

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated November 24, 1993, to Iberville Parish School District (Iberville Parish). The list describes the change as "1993 redistricting." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Oct 18, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to the districting plan for the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government

    On October 18, 1993 the Justice Department did not object to the consolidation of the city and parish councils but wrote it was "unable to reach the same conclusion" on the districting plan, which was identical to a 1992 Lafayette Parish School District plan it had objected to on September 21, 1992. It said the plan had two majority-Black districts that were only 49.7 and 50.1 percent Black in voting age population, and objected to it.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  4. Sep 17, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Evangeline Parish: Realignment and elimination of voting precincts

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 17, 1993, to Evangeline Parish. The list describes the change as "Realignment and elimination of voting precincts." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. Aug 30, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Bossier Parish School District (Bossier Parish): 1992 school board redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated August 30, 1993, to Bossier Parish School District (Bossier Parish). The list describes the change as "1992 school board redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. Aug 30, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in St. Mary Parish School District (St. Mary Parish): 1992 districting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated August 30, 1993, to St. Mary Parish School District (St. Mary Parish). The list describes the change as "1992 districting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  7. Aug 30, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Tallulah (Madison Parish): 1993 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated August 30, 1993, to Tallulah (Madison Parish). The list describes the change as "1993 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  8. Jun 21, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Iberville Parish School District (Iberville Parish): 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated June 21, 1993, to Iberville Parish School District (Iberville Parish). The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  9. Jun 21, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Washington Parish School District (Washington Parish): Increase in the number of school board trustees and districting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated June 21, 1993, to Washington Parish School District (Washington Parish). The list describes the change as "Increase in the number of school board trustees and districting plan." The list adds the note "Objection to increase in number of trustees Withdrawn 10-26-93 upon preclearance of new redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  10. May 24, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Evangeline Parish School District: 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated May 24, 1993, to Evangeline Parish School District. The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  11. May 18, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in St. Francisville (West Feliciana Parish): Method of election and districting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated May 18, 1993, to St. Francisville (West Feliciana Parish). The list describes the change as "Method of election and districting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  12. Mar 30, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in West Carroll Parish School District (West Carroll Parish): 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated March 30, 1993, to West Carroll Parish School District (West Carroll Parish). The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  13. Mar 26, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Morehouse Parish

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated March 26, 1993, to Morehouse Parish. The list describes the change as "Act No. 975 (1991), which reduces the number of justices of the peace and constables from eight to two and provides a districting plan for justice of the peace and constable districts." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  14. Mar 22, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Monroe City Court (Ouachita Parish)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated March 22, 1993, to Monroe City Court (Ouachita Parish). The list describes the change as "Act No. 682 (1992), which provides for the creation of two at-large judicial positions with numbered posts (same changes objected to on 10-23-90)." The list adds the note "Objection to additional judgeships Withdrawn on 8-31-93." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  15. Mar 8, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Jennings (Jefferson Davis Parish): 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated March 8, 1993, to Jennings (Jefferson Davis Parish). The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  16. Jan 4, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in East Carroll Parish: 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated January 4, 1993, to East Carroll Parish. The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  17. Jan 4, 1993 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in East Carroll Parish School District (East Carroll Parish): 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated January 4, 1993, to East Carroll Parish School District (East Carroll Parish). The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  18. 1993 State Maps and lines Enacted

    Legislature repeals Act 42 and passes Act 1, another map with two majority-Black districts

    In 1993, while an appeal in Hays v. Louisiana was pending before the Supreme Court, the Legislature repealed Act 42 and passed Act 1. The 1993 map also had two majority-Black districts, one around New Orleans and one running about 250 miles from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. A three-judge court declared Act 1 unconstitutional.

    Related: Louisiana adopts Act 42 of 1992, creating a second majority-Black congressional district · Supreme Court holds the Hays plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge Louisiana's Act 1 map

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1992

  1. Dec 30, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Vermilion Parish School District (Vermilion Parish): 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 30, 1992, to Vermilion Parish School District (Vermilion Parish). The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Nov 9, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in St. Martinville (St. Martin Parish): 1991 redistricting plan (councilmanic)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated November 9, 1992, to St. Martinville (St. Martin Parish). The list describes the change as "1991 redistricting plan (councilmanic)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Sep 21, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Lafayette Parish School District (Lafayette Parish): 1992 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 21, 1992, to Lafayette Parish School District (Lafayette Parish). The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. Sep 14, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Morehouse Parish: Redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 14, 1992, to Morehouse Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. Sep 10, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Pointe Coupee Parish: 1992 redistricting plan (police jury)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 10, 1992, to Pointe Coupee Parish. The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan (police jury)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. Aug 28, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Concordia Parish: Reduction in number of police jurors and districting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated August 28, 1992, to Concordia Parish. The list describes the change as "Reduction in number of police jurors and districting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  7. Aug 21, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in East Carroll Parish: 1992 redistricting plan (police jury)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated August 21, 1992, to East Carroll Parish. The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan (police jury)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  8. Aug 10, 1992 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Franklin Parish: Reduction in number of police jurors

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated August 10, 1992, to Franklin Parish. The list describes the change as "Reduction in number of police jurors." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  9. May 26, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Morehouse Parish: 1992 redistricting plan (police jury)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated May 26, 1992, to Morehouse Parish. The list describes the change as "1992 redistricting plan (police jury)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  10. Apr 10, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Madison Parish: 1991 redistricting plan (police jury and school board

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated April 10, 1992, to Madison Parish. The list describes the change as "1991 redistricting plan (police jury and school board." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  11. Feb 7, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Pointe Coupee Parish: 1991 redistricting plan (police jury)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated February 7, 1992, to Pointe Coupee Parish. The list describes the change as "1991 redistricting plan (police jury)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  12. Jan 3, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Terrebonne Parish: Redistricting plan for council districts

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated January 3, 1992, to Terrebonne Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan for council districts." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  13. Jan 2, 1992 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Richland Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated January 2, 1992, to Richland Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  14. 1992 State Maps and lines Enacted

    Louisiana adopts Act 42 of 1992, creating a second majority-Black congressional district

    After the 1990 census the Legislature enacted Act 42 of 1992. Before it, Louisiana had seven congressional districts, one with a majority-Black voting population; Act 42 created a second. A three-judge court in the Western District of Louisiana later concluded the plan violated the Equal Protection Clause and enjoined its use.

    Related: Legislature repeals Act 42 and passes Act 1, another map with two majority-Black districts · Supreme Court holds the Hays plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge Louisiana's Act 1 map

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1991

  1. Dec 24, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Webster Parish: Redistricting plans (police jury and school board)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 24, 1991, to Webster Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plans (police jury and school board)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Dec 23, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Concordia Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 23, 1991, to Concordia Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Dec 20, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in East Carroll Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury and school board districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 20, 1991, to East Carroll Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury and school board districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. Dec 16, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in St. Landry Parish: Redistricting plans (police jury and school board districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated December 16, 1991, to St. Landry Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plans (police jury and school board districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. Nov 25, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Franklin Parish: Two redistricting plans (police jury districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated November 25, 1991, to Franklin Parish. The list describes the change as "Two redistricting plans (police jury districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. Oct 25, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Catahoula Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 25, 1991, to Catahoula Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  7. Oct 25, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in St. Martin Parish: Redistricting plans (police jury and school board districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 25, 1991, to St. Martin Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plans (police jury and school board districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  8. Oct 25, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in West Feliciana Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 25, 1991, to West Feliciana Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  9. Oct 15, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in DeSoto Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 15, 1991, to DeSoto Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  10. Oct 8, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Jackson Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 8, 1991, to Jackson Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  11. Sep 27, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Bienville Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 27, 1991, to Bienville Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  12. Sep 27, 1991 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Morehouse Parish: Redistricting plan (police jury districts)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 27, 1991, to Morehouse Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan (police jury districts)." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  13. Jul 15, 1991 State Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects in part to Louisiana's 1991 House of Representatives redistricting plan

    On July 15, 1991 the Justice Department wrote that "on behalf of the Attorney General, I must object to the 1991 redistricting plan for the State House of Representatives to the extent that it incorporates the proposed configurations for the seven areas discussed above."

    Related: Attorney General objects in part to Louisiana's 1991 state Senate redistricting plan

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  14. Jun 28, 1991 State Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects in part to Louisiana's 1991 state Senate redistricting plan

    On June 28, 1991 the Justice Department wrote that the Senate plan (Act 2 of the 1991 Second Extraordinary Session) "in large part" met Section 5 requirements, but that in the Northeast area, particularly Ouachita Parish, and the Lafayette area, including St. Martin Parish, the boundary lines appeared to minimize Black voting strength. On behalf of the Attorney General it objected to the plan to the extent it incorporated those configurations.

    Related: Attorney General objects in part to Louisiana's 1991 House of Representatives redistricting plan

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  15. Jun 20, 1991 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court rules Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act covers judicial elections in Chisom v. Roemer

    On June 20, 1991, in a challenge by Black voters in Orleans Parish to the way Louisiana elects justices of its Supreme Court from a multimember district, the Supreme Court held: "Judicial elections are covered by § 2 as amended."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  16. Jun 3, 1991 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Clark v. Roemer on preclearance of Louisiana's judicial election changes

    On June 3, 1991, the Supreme Court decided Clark v. Roemer, a suit by Black registered voters over Louisiana's electoral scheme for certain judges. The syllabus records that Louisiana submitted unprecleared changes, many adopted in the late 1960s and 1970s, for administrative preclearance after the amended complaint, and that the Attorney General objected to some, including the creation of several judgeships.

    Related: Attorney General objects to new Louisiana judgeships elected at large by designated post · Attorney General objects to additional Louisiana judgeships elected at large, and does not object to a 12th District change

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1990

  1. Oct 23, 1990 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Monroe City Court (Ouachita Parish)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated October 23, 1990, to Monroe City Court (Ouachita Parish). The list describes the change as "Act No. 393, H.B. No. 945 (1977), which provides for a second judgeship and the adoption of numbered positions (Divisions A and B); Act No. 8, S.B. No. 345 (1990), insofar as it provides for a third judgeship, elected from a numbered position (Division C); Act No. 728, H.B. No. 2047 (1990), which also provides for a third judgeship; and three annexations." The list adds the note "Objection to additional judgeships Withdrawn 8-31-93." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Sep 17, 1990 State Laws and rules Withdrawn

    Justice Department withdraws its objections to Orleans Parish court judgeships and does not object to two new Civil District Court judgeships

    In a letter dated September 17, 1990, replying to a request from the Louisiana Assistant Attorney General to reconsider, the Justice Department withdrew its September 23, 1988 and May 12, 1989 Section 5 objections as they applied to the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court (Acts 236 of 1972 and 143 of 1975) and Civil District Court (Acts 235 of 1970 and 129 of 1975). The letter says the department's further analysis found that the changes would not have a discriminatory purpose or effect and that their implementation would not lead to a clear violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. For Act 8 (1990), it did not object to the thirteenth and fourteenth at-large judgeships (Divisions M and N) of the Orleans Parish Civil District Court. An attachment headed "Objected-to Voting Changes" lists changes for other judicial districts and circuit courts of appeal.

    Related: Attorney General objects to new Louisiana judgeships elected at large by designated post · Attorney General objects to additional Louisiana judgeships elected at large, and does not object to a 12th District change

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1989

  1. Nov 17, 1989 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to Jefferson Parish council districting plan, not the six-plus-one method of election

    On November 17, 1989 the Justice Department responded to a new method of electing the Jefferson Parish council, six single-member districts and one at-large seat, and a districting plan adopted after a federal court found the earlier system violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It did "not object to the proposed change to a 6-1 method of election," but wrote that it "must interpose an objection to the districting plan adopted for implementing that" method.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. May 12, 1989 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to additional Louisiana judgeships elected at large, and does not object to a 12th District change

    On May 12, 1989, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Act No. 235 (1970), which created an additional judgeship (Division J) on the Orleans Parish Civil District Court, and to the parts of Act No. 56 (1984) that created judgeships in the 4th, 16th and 21st Judicial Districts and implemented changes in the 29th and 40th Judicial Districts. It did not object to the change Act No. 56 made in the 12th Judicial District. The letter said the federal court in Clark v. Roemer had found that the at-large method of election, with designated posts and a majority-vote requirement, violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in those districts, and pointed to its September 23, 1988 objection.

    Related: Supreme Court decides Clark v. Roemer on preclearance of Louisiana's judicial election changes · Attorney General objects to new Louisiana judgeships elected at large by designated post · Justice Department withdraws its objections to Orleans Parish court judgeships and does not object to two new Civil District Court judgeships

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1988

  1. Sep 23, 1988 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to new Louisiana judgeships elected at large by designated post

    On September 23, 1988, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Act 801 (1987), which added judgeships on the Second and Third Circuit Courts of Appeals, to Act 200 (1988), which changed the special election date, and to other changes listed in the letter, including designated posts in the First Circuit and the redistricting of the 10th Judicial District. The letter relied on the federal court's findings in Clark v. Roemer that Louisiana's at-large method of electing judges, with designated posts and a majority-vote rule, violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in the Second and Third Circuits and other districts, and said the new judgeships could not be added under that method.

    Related: Supreme Court decides Clark v. Roemer on preclearance of Louisiana's judicial election changes · Attorney General objects to additional Louisiana judgeships elected at large, and does not object to a 12th District change · Justice Department withdraws its objections to Orleans Parish court judgeships and does not object to two new Civil District Court judgeships

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1987

  1. Apr 10, 1987 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Cottonport (Avoyelles Parish): Method of election, from at large to four districts and one at large

    On April 10, 1987, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Cottonport's change to four districts and one at-large seat and its districting plan. The letter said the change improved Black electoral opportunities compared with the existing at-large system, but that alternative plans suggested to the city and disregarded would better insure equal opportunity, and it was alleged the city rejected them because of race. The letter said the city had not yet provided enough information to show the plan was free of discriminatory purpose.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1984

  1. Jul 16, 1984 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Monroe City School District (Ouachita Parish): Redistricting

    On July 16, 1984, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to the Monroe City School Board's redistricting plan and increase from six to seven members. The letter said the plan fixed the non-contiguous District 6 but was otherwise virtually the same as the plan it had objected to on May 18, 1982, still concentrating Black residents into three of seven districts although the Black population had grown 30 percent since 1970 and was 48.5 percent of the city. It called the plan an impermissible retrogression.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Mar 16, 1984 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to suspending Louisiana's 1984 presidential preference primary

    On March 16, 1984, the Justice Department objected to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which would have suspended the April 7, 1984 presidential preference primaries required by state law. The letter said that "on behalf of the Attorney General, I must object to S. Con. Res. No. 4," finding that suspension would reduce opportunities for Black voters to participate in the delegate selection process.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1983

  1. Dec 6, 1983 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in New Iberia (Iberia Parish): Redistricting (councilmanic districts)

    On December 6, 1983, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to the redistricting of New Iberia's city council districts. The letter said Black residents were 28.8 percent of the city, yet the plan gave only one district, District No. 2, where Black voters were likely to elect a candidate, despite repeated requests for alternatives, and kept the lines of a court-ordered plan that had never been precleared.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Aug 22, 1983 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Pointe Coupee Parish: Redistricting

    On August 22, 1983, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Pointe Coupee Parish's 1983 police jury redistricting plan (and, in the same letter, the 1978 court-approved plan, which had never been precleared). The letter said Black residents were about 42 percent of the parish but would make up more than 60 percent in only one of eleven districts, that Black population areas in Districts 4, 6, 7 and 9 were fragmented, and that the Black community's suggestions were ignored. It made no determination on the realigned precincts and renumbered districts.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Jul 11, 1983 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Caddo Parish: Proposed twelve member districts

    On July 11, 1983, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to one part of Caddo Parish's new Home Rule Charter: the redistricting plan for a twelve-member parish commission, replacing a twenty-member police jury. It did not object to the rest of the charter. The letter said cutting the districts from twenty to twelve needlessly fragmented Black population concentrations, leaving three solid minority districts and one marginal one, compared with six districts over 76 percent Black under the existing plan.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. May 2, 1983 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Assumption Parish: Reapportionment

    On May 2, 1983, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Assumption Parish's amended police jury and school board plans and the related precinct realignment, which were meant to fix the problems behind its November 30, 1982 objection. The letter said Black-majority wards still fell from four to three and that Black residents of Ward 4 were reduced from more than 62 percent to 55.9 percent of the population, when easily devised alternatives would have kept them above 60 percent.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. Apr 11, 1983 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in St. Helena Parish: Reapportionment, precinct realignment (school board and police jury)

    On April 11, 1983, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to the St. Helena Parish police jury and school board redistricting plan and the realignment of voting precincts. The letter said Black residents were 51.4 percent of the parish, that the plan cut the districts where Black voters had the potential to elect a candidate from three to two, and that the parish ignored the minority community's suggestion to make only the necessary changes, which the letter called an impermissible retrogression.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. Feb 22, 1983 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to East Baton Rouge Parish's consolidated council and districting plan

    On February 22, 1983 the Justice Department wrote that it "must object" to East Baton Rouge Parish's consolidation of the parish and city councils, an increase in single-member districts from eleven to twelve, and the redistricting plan. It found the change would reduce potential Black representation on matters of the city from three of seven members to three of twelve, which it called "an impermissible retrogression," and noted what it saw as unnecessary packing of the Black population into two proposed districts.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  7. Jan 14, 1983 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Winn Parish: Reapportionment (school board)

    On January 14, 1983, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to the Winn Parish school board reapportionment plan. The letter said the plan kept the existing configuration, which the Department had earlier found unconstitutional as it affected Winnfield, with about 89 percent Black District No. 1 absorbing a large part of the city's Black population so that Black voters could not elect candidates in other districts.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1982

  1. Dec 20, 1982 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in LaSalle Parish: 1978 and 1982 Reapportionment Plans (school board and police jury)

    On December 20, 1982, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to LaSalle Parish's 1978 and 1982 police jury and school board reapportionment plans. The letter said both plans fragmented the Black population in the minority housing areas in Districts 6, 7 and 9 without apparent justification, which suggested a racial purpose, and that Black voters likely could elect a candidate in one of the nine districts under a plan that kept those concentrations together.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Nov 30, 1982 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Assumption Parish: Reapportionment

    On November 30, 1982, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to the Assumption Parish police jury and school board reapportionment plans and the related realignment of voting precincts. The letter said wards with a Black majority fell from four to two, and that Black residents of Ward 4, more than 62 percent of its population, were fragmented to 39.5 percent without apparent justification. It said this was retrogression and suggested the plans might have been drawn with racial purpose.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Nov 8, 1982 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in West Baton Rouge Parish School District: Redistricting (school board)

    On November 8, 1982, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to the reapportionment of the West Baton Rouge Parish school board, but did not object to raising the board from eight to nine members. The letter said the board had considered several nine-district single-member plans, each with a Port Allen district where Black voters could elect a candidate, and chose instead a multi-member district for Port Allen that would not give Black voters a reasonable chance to elect any of its three members.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. Aug 16, 1982 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Madison Parish: Reapportionment (school board and police jury)

    On August 16, 1982, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Madison Parish's new police jury and school board plans. The letter said the plans would dilute Black voting strength by cutting the Black share of Ward 3 from 61.4 percent to 54 percent, even though the ward could have been reduced to the required size without doing so.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. Jun 1, 1982 State Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to Louisiana's 1981 House of Representatives reapportionment plan

    On June 1, 1982, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Act No. 1 of the First Extraordinary Session of 1981, Louisiana's new plan for the House of Representatives. The letter said the plan reduced the number of Black-majority House districts, from eleven to seven in Orleans Parish, eliminated a Black-majority district in New Orleans' Ninth Ward, fragmented Black voters in the East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, St. Helena and West Feliciana area, and diluted Black voting strength in Alexandria. It said the state had not shown the plan lacked a discriminatory purpose or effect. The letter noted a pending suit, Major v. Treen (E.D. La.), and sent the court a copy.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. May 18, 1982 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Monroe School District (Ouachita Parish): Redistricting, increase in the number of board members from six to seven

    On May 18, 1982, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to the Monroe City School Board's new redistricting plan and its increase from six to seven members. The letter said the plan packed Black voters into three high-percentage districts, drew a non-contiguous District VI, and would leave four white-majority and three Black-majority districts in a city that was 48.6 percent Black. It said this showed retrogression in the position of Black voters.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1980

  1. Feb 7, 1980 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Baton Rouge City Court (East Baton Rouge Parish)

    On February 7, 1980, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Baton Rouge City Council Ordinance No. 3103 (1973), which created an additional at-large judgeship, Division "C", on the Baton Rouge City Court. The letter said the city had not shown that the change would not reduce Black residents' position or violate constitutional limits. It noted that no Black person had ever won election to the court, said the at-large, majority-vote and designated-post features made that worse, and said the city had rejected alternatives such as a three-district single-member plan. The Justice Department's list records the objection as withdrawn on October 10, 1980.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Feb 7, 1980 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Baton Rouge City Court (East Baton Rouge Parish)

    On February 7, 1980, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Act 522 of the 1979 Louisiana session, which created an additional at-large judgeship, Division "D", on the Baton Rouge City Court. The letter, sent to the Louisiana Attorney General, gave the same reasons as its letter on Division "C": no Black person had ever won election to the court, and the at-large, majority-vote and designated-post features worked against Black voters. It also said single-member districts or dropping the majority-vote rule would give Black voters a fair chance. The Justice Department's list records the objection as withdrawn on October 10, 1980.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

1978

  1. Oct 20, 1978 County Polling places and drop boxes Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Gladden Tractor Shed as a polling place, reversing an earlier no-objection letter

    In a letter of October 20, 1978, the Justice Department addressed the polling place change to the Gladden Tractor Shed in Ward 2, Precinct 1 of Pointe Coupee Parish, received August 21, 1978. It recalled that on September 20, 1978 it had interposed no objection while reserving the right to reexamine, and said that since then it had received information that the September 16, 1978 election at the site involved election-day activities that black voters felt were "threatening and intimidating to black citizens," that the site is in a sparsely populated, remote area, and that the site is less convenient than alternatives in the town of Innis. It concludes: "Under these circumstances and as indicated above ... we are unable to conclude that the change to this polling place does not have the effect of abridging the right to vote on account of race or color. Therefore, on behalf of the Attorney General, I must interpose an objection to the use of the Gladden Tractor Shed site as the polling place location for Ward 2, Precinct 1 for future elections."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Aug 11, 1978 County Polling places and drop boxes Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to moving the Ward 2, Precinct 1 polling place in Pointe Coupee Parish to the Mounger Store site

    In a letter of August 11, 1978, the Justice Department addressed polling place changes in Ward 1, Precinct 1 and Ward 2, Precincts 1 and 2 of Pointe Coupee Parish, received June 14, 1978. It interposed no objection to the changes in Ward 1, Precinct 1 and Ward 2, Precinct 2. For Ward 2, Precinct 1, where blacks are a majority of registered voters, it found the site adjacent to the old Mounger Store significantly less convenient for most black voters than the Red & White Store, no more centrally located, and no better in facilities, with significant opposition among black residents and alternative sites available, and concluded "I must interpose an objection to the use of the Mounger Store site as the polling place location for Ward 2, Precinct 1."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  3. May 12, 1978 County Polling places and drop boxes Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a polling place change for Ward 7, Precinct 6 in New Orleans

    In a letter of May 12, 1978, the Justice Department addressed five polling place changes for the City of New Orleans, received April 3, 1978. It interposed no objection to four of them but, for Ward 7, Precinct 6, stated "we are unable to conclude that the change does not have a prohibited discriminatory effect," noting that the changes "appear to be part of a recurring pattern of polling place changes in New Orleans just prior to elections" and that this submission reached the Department two days after the change was implemented during the April 1, 1978 election, so that "in this instance we have some evidence of actual rather than just potential effect." Because of pending litigation, Charbonnet v. Braden (E.D. La.), the letter was copied to the court.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

1977

  1. Mar 7, 1977 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to excluding City of Monroe residents from Ouachita Parish School Board elections

    In a letter of March 7, 1977, the Justice Department addressed Article VIII, Section 10(b) of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, which provides that only residents of Ouachita Parish living outside the City of Monroe may vote in elections for the Ouachita Parish School Board, completed January 6, 1977. It found that 38.7% of Monroe residents are black, 27.5% of parish residents are black and 17.2% of residents outside Monroe are black, so that the black percentage of the electorate would fall from 27.5 to 17.2%, and that the disenfranchisement would fall on 68% of the parish's black residents. It concludes: "given the racial composition of the City of Monroe and the remainder of the parish, and the dilution of black voting strength caused by the disfranchisement of city voters, we are unable to conclude, as we must under the Voting Rights Act, that this change does not have the purpose and will not have the effect of discriminating on the basis of race or color. Accordingly, I must, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection to Article VIII, Section 10(b) of the Louisiana Constitution."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

1976

  1. Apr 13, 1976 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the City of Many reapportionment plan

    In a letter of April 13, 1976 to the mayor of Many, Sabine Parish, the Justice Department addressed the 1973 annexation and Reapportionment Plan "C," completed February 13, 1976. It did not object to the annexation. On the plan, it states that the city's population is 40% black, concentrated in the east-central area, and that the boundary lines "would have the effect of overly concentrating black citizens into District 'B,' while simultaneously fragmenting adjoining black concentrations into the surrounding majority white districts," so that District B is a 100% black district and the rest of the black concentration is fragmented to a 42% minority in the remaining four districts. It states "Under these circumstances, I must interpose an objection on behalf of the Attorney General to the implementation of the submitted reapportionment plan for the City of Many."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Mar 31, 1976 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to 51 of 90 annexations to the City of Shreveport

    In a letter of March 31, 1976, the Justice Department addressed 90 annexations to the City of Shreveport, received January 31, 1976. It interposed no objection to 39 of them, which involve areas not populated or with a de minimis effect on minority voting strength, but states that as to the other 51 "we cannot conclude that the 51 annexations in question will not have a racially dilutive effect on voting in Shreveport," noting that "the overwhelming majority of the individuals residing in these annexed areas are white" and that the city elects its commission at large amid racial bloc voting. It concludes "I must on behalf of the Attorney General interpose an objection," adding that the Attorney General would reconsider if the city elected its commission from single-member districts. A later letter in the same file, answering the city's request for reconsideration and considering the federal district court's July 16, 1976 decision in Blacks United for Lasting Leadership v. City of Shreveport, declined to withdraw the objection to the 51 annexations.

    Counties: Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  3. Mar 30, 1976 County Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Beer v. United States, on New Orleans's city council districts

    After the Attorney General objected to New Orleans's council redistricting plan in 1973, the city sought a declaratory judgment. On March 30, 1976 the Supreme Court held that a reapportionment "that enhances the position of racial minorities with respect to their effective exercise of the electoral franchise" cannot violate Section 5 unless the new apportionment itself so discriminates racially as to violate the Constitution, and it vacated the lower court's ruling and remanded. The plan created Black population majorities in two of five council districts and a Black voter majority in one.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1975

  1. Dec 24, 1975 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Rapides Parish police jury and school board reapportionment plans

    In a letter of December 24, 1975, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plans for the Rapides Parish Police Jury and School Board, received November 3, 1975, which were the plans adopted as a result of litigation in Le Blanc v. Rapides Parish Police Jury (W.D. La. July 26, 1971). It says "Our analysis of the election results under the submitted plans which utilize multi-member districts reveals that the implementation of the plans impermissibly dilute the voting strength of black persons," illustrated by the fact that blacks had not been elected under either plan, while under the single-member system implemented by court order in 1974 two black candidates were elected to each body for the first time in modern history. It concludes "on behalf of the Attorney General, I must interpose an objection to the school board and police jury reapportionment plans."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Dec 15, 1975 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the full-slate requirement for school board elections in Louisiana Act 432 of 1975

    In a letter of December 15, 1975, the Justice Department addressed 37 acts of the 1975 Louisiana legislature, received October 14, 1975. It interposed no objection to the listed acts except one section. It notes that Act 199 (1973), to which the Attorney General had not objected, allowed single-shot voting in all elections, and that Act 432 "reenacts a provision ... which requires that in school board elections a voter must vote for a full slate," which "would have the effect of prohibiting single-shot voting in school board elections." It concludes: "Under such circumstances we cannot conclude that the state has sustained its burden of showing that the change to full slate voting embodied in Act 432 will not have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or color. I must, therefore, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection to Section G of Act 432 of the 1975 regular session of the Louisiana State Legislature."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  3. Aug 15, 1975 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to Louisiana Act 107 of 1971, the Orleans Parish Executive Committee districts

    In a letter of August 15, 1975, the same letter that objected to Act 494 (1974), the Justice Department addressed Act 107 of the 1971 Regular Session. It says Act 107 was received June 7, 1972, that information requested on July 3, 1972 and August 7, 1974 was never provided, and that it evaluated the Act on the available information, which "reveals that Act 107 (1971) provided multi-member districts in conjunction with the anti-single shot and majority vote requirement features" and a districting plan that "again closely followed the parish ward lines." It states "For reasons similar to those which I have based my objection to Act 494 (1974), we have concluded that the state has not met its legal burden of proving that Act 107 (1971) has neither the purpose nor effect of abridging or denying the right to vote on account of race or color. Therefore, on behalf of the Attorney General, I must interpose an objection to Act 107 (1971)."

    Related: Attorney General objects to Act 494 of 1974 for the Orleans Parish Executive Committee

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  4. Aug 15, 1975 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to Act 494 of 1974 for the Orleans Parish Executive Committee

    On August 15, 1975 the Justice Department wrote to the Louisiana Assistant Attorney General about Act 494 of the 1974 session, which reapportions and redistricts the Orleans Parish Executive Committee and requires candidates "to designate a post and receive a majority of the votes within multi-member districts." Writing that it was "unable to conclude that the implementation of Act 494 will not have the prescribed effect," the Department interposed an objection under Section 5.

    Related: Justice Department objects under Section 5 to Louisiana Act 107 of 1971, the Orleans Parish Executive Committee districts

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

1974

  1. Jul 26, 1974 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the revised Evangeline Parish reapportionment plans

    In a letter of July 26, 1974, the Justice Department addressed the amended reapportionment plans for the Evangeline Parish School Board and Police Jury, received July 15, 1974. It says "we believe that these plans, while an improvement over the districts submitted on May 2, 1974, do not eliminate all the objectionable features set forth in our June 25 letter," that the new proposal creates another single-member district with a black population majority but "does not remedy the continued dilutive effect of submerging still sizeable concentrations of black voters into majority-white, multi-member districts," and that the plans retain the majority requirement, anti-single-shot rule, staggered terms and numbered post system. It concludes "I must, therefore, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection to the implementation of these plans."

    Related: Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Evangeline Parish School Board and Police Jury reapportionment plans

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Jun 25, 1974 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Evangeline Parish School Board and Police Jury reapportionment plans

    In a letter of June 25, 1974, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plans for the Evangeline Parish School Board and Police Jury, received May 2, 1974. It states the objection "is based upon two aspects of this plan - the submergence of significant concentrations of Negro voters into majority-white multi-member districts, particularly the six member district 6, and the magnification of this dilution of Negro voting strength by the" majority requirement, anti-single-shot rule, staggered terms and numbered posts, and concludes "For that reason I must, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection to the implementation of the submitted plans." It adds that its review indicated no polling place or precinct changes in the parish had been properly submitted under Section 5.

    Related: Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the revised Evangeline Parish reapportionment plans

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

1973

  1. Oct 29, 1973 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a residency requirement in the proposed Bogalusa Home Rule Charter

    In a letter of October 29, 1973 to the Bogalusa Charter Commission, the Justice Department addressed the proposed Home Rule Charter for the City of Bogalusa. It did not object to the charter except for Section 2-01 of Article II, which "requires that candidates for City Council must qualify for a particular district even though they must run at-large." Noting increasing participation by the black community, it states that "the utilization of residency requirements in an at-large election system, which requires only a plurality for election, has the affect of diluting the potential for minority electors to elect candidates of their choice," and that "the Acting Attorney General must interpose an objection to the implementation of Section 2-01 of Article II." It also expressed a wish that the city consider modifying the at-large, full-slate and plurality features of its election system.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Jul 17, 1973 County Polling places and drop boxes Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to using Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Hall as the polling place for Ward 4, Precinct 3

    In a letter of July 17, 1973, the Justice Department addressed 10 polling place changes submitted by the City of New Orleans and completed May 23, 1973, objecting to only one. It says the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Hall site, located outside Precinct 3 of Ward 4 and also serving Precinct 2, "is apparently extremely inconvenient for many of the registered voters in Precinct 3, 95% of whom are black, and has the effect of discouraging such persons from traveling to the polls to cast their ballots," and that this effect appeared unnecessary because more convenient sites existed within the precinct. It states "On behalf of the Attorney General I must, therefore, interpose an objection to the continued use of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Hall as a polling place for Precinct 3 of Ward 4."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  3. Jul 9, 1973 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the revised New Orleans City Council reapportionment, Ordinance 5154

    In a letter of July 9, 1973, the Justice Department addressed City Council Ordinance 5154 M.C.S., which reapportioned the council districts of New Orleans, received May 10, 1973. It states the boundary lines "appear to effect a dilution of black voting strength in the same manner as did the boundary lines prescribed in Ordinance 4796 M.C.S. to which an objection was interposed on behalf of the Attorney General on January 15, 1973," and concludes "Under these circumstances we cannot conclude, as we must under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, that this plan of reapportionment for the New Orleans City Council will not have a racially discriminatory effect on voting. Consequently, on behalf of the Attorney General I must interpose an objection to the reapportionment plan outlined in Ordinance 5154 M.C.S." The letter attributes the dilution to the "vertical shape" of the districts, which divided east-to-west black neighborhoods and combined them with white areas.

    Related: Attorney General objects to the New Orleans city council districting ordinance

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  4. Jun 12, 1973 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the 1973 annexation to the Town of Newellton

    In a letter of June 12, 1973, the Justice Department addressed the 1973 annexation to the Town of Newellton, Tensas Parish, whose governing body is elected at large. It states "Approximately 72 white voters have been added to the registration lists as a result of the annexation. Where, as here, voter registration is substantially evenly divided between the races, the addition of a seemingly few white voters can have a significant diluting impact on black voting strength. In fact, the 72 white voters added by the instant annexation has the effect of changing the present black voter majority in Newellton to a black voter minority." It concludes "I am unable to certify, as I must under Section 5, that the change does not have a racially discriminatory purpose or effect, and therefore I must, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection to its implementation," and noted that five earlier annexations since 1964 also came within Section 5.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  5. Apr 20, 1973 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to Louisiana Act 106 of 1972, numbered posts for multi-member bodies

    On April 20, 1973 the Justice Department wrote to the Louisiana Attorney General about Act 106, which "provides for the use of divisions or numbered posts for all multi-member bodies in districts, parishes, municipalities, and wards in the state." The letter said the act "would impose a numbered-post requirement on present Louisiana election procedures for multi-member offices" and that the Department was "unable to conclude ... that implementation of 106 will not have a discriminatory racial effect," so it interposed an objection under Section 5. It added that it accepted the legislature's purpose was "to simplify and expedite the election process."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  6. Jan 15, 1973 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to the New Orleans city council districting ordinance

    On January 15, 1973 the Justice Department wrote to the New Orleans city attorney's office about City Council Ordinance 4796 M.C.S., which reapportioned the councilmanic districts. The letter said "the district boundary lines in the submitted plan are drawn in a manner which appears to dilute black voting strength by combining a number of black voters with a larger number of white voters in each of the five districts" and that "we cannot conclude, as we must under the Voting Rights Act, that this plan of reapportionment for the New Orleans Council will not have a racially discriminatory effect." It interposed an objection under Section 5, "reluctantly."

    Related: Supreme Court decides Beer v. United States, on New Orleans's city council districts · Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the revised New Orleans City Council reapportionment, Ordinance 5154

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

1972

  1. Dec 6, 1972 County Polling places and drop boxes Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to moving the Lawtell polling place to the Knights of Columbus Hall

    In a letter of December 6, 1972 to the president of the St. Landry Parish Police Jury, the Justice Department addressed a resolution that would move the polling place in the village of Lawtell from Daigle's Washerteria to the Knights of Columbus Hall after the November 7, 1972 election. It states "We have received information that black citizens are not normally permitted free access to the Knights of Columbus Hall. Under these circumstances we are not able to conclude that this polling place change will not have a discriminatory impact. Therefore, on behalf of the Attorney General I must interpose an objection to the implementation of the change. We understand that other facilities are available in the vicinity."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Dec 1, 1972 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the 1968 annexation to the Town of Lake Providence

    In a letter of December 1, 1972, the Justice Department addressed the 1968 annexation to the Town of Lake Providence. It states that "approximately 158 white voters have been added to the registration lists as a result of the 'Island' annexation," that the town council rejected a request for annexation from the predominantly black area known as "Milltown" at the same time and an application from another black area in 1971, and that in a town where registration is substantially evenly divided "the addition of a seemingly few white voters can have a significant impact on black voting strength." It concludes "I am unable to certify, as I must under Section 5, that the change does not have a racially discriminatory purpose or effect. Therefore, under the Voting Rights Act the Attorney General must register an objection to its implementation," and notes that the annexation was the subject of litigation in Jackson v. Land (W.D. La.).

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  3. Jun 16, 1972 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Lafayette Parish School Board reapportionment plan

    In a letter of June 16, 1972, the Justice Department addressed the proposed Lafayette Parish School Board reapportionment plan submitted April 13, 1972. It states "I am unable to conclude, as we must under the Voting Rights Act, that the reapportionment plan will not have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or color. I must, therefore, on behalf of the Attorney General interpose an objection to the implementation of this plan." The decision rests on a finding that the boundary lines of new Wards 2, 3 and 4 "unnecessarily divide heavily Negro residential areas into the three wards," and on the finding that the Negro community's voting strength "is further minimized and effectively cancelled out by submergence into a series of majority-white three member districts," magnified by staggered election and a majority-vote requirement in primaries.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  4. Jun 7, 1972 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Pointe Coupee Parish School Board reapportionment plan

    In a letter listed as dated June 7, 1972, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for school board districts in Pointe Coupee Parish, received April 16, 1972, after delaying a decision at the board's request so that it could consider an alternative plan. It states "The submitted plan reduces the proportion of school board members elected from majority-black districts from eight of the old twelve-member board to two out of the proposed eight-member board. It is our view that the plan unnecessarily discriminates against black voters and potential candidates. Therefore, I must on behalf of the Attorney General interpose an objection to the submitted plan." It adds that the board could adopt and submit a new plan or seek a declaratory judgment in the District Court for the District of Columbia.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  5. Apr 22, 1972 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to multi-member districts in the East Feliciana Parish School Board plan

    In a letter listed as dated April 22, 1972, the Justice Department addressed the proposed redistricting plan submitted on behalf of the East Feliciana Parish School Board on February 23, 1972. It records that there had previously been a number of election districts, only one of them multi-member, that the plan reduced the number to five, three of them multi-member, and that in setting up two of the multi-member districts "significant black concentrations have been joined with heavily white areas in a way which reduces the number of School Board members elected from black-majority districts." Citing Whitcomb v. Chavis and recent federal court decisions on multi-member districts, it concludes: "I am unable to conclude, as we must under the Voting Rights Act, that the use of multi-member districts in the proposed plan of school board reapportionment will not have the effect of discriminating against black voters in East Feliciana Parish. For that reason I must, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  6. Apr 20, 1972 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Ascension Parish School Board reapportionment plan

    In a letter of April 20, 1972, the Justice Department addressed the proposed reapportionment plan for the Ascension Parish School Board, received February 23, 1972. It states "Based on our analysis, I am unable to conclude that the proposed plan will not have the effect of discriminating against Negro voters and potential candidates on account of their race or color. For that reason I must, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection to the reapportionment plan." It notes that three of the ten wards in the parish are majority black and that two of the three fall far short of the population needed for individual representatives. It adds that the school board plan appeared to be based on the first police jury reapportionment proposal, to which the Attorney General had objected on July 23, 1971, and says that the results of the 1970 school board election held under the changes objected to "cannot be lawfully implemented," so the election should be reconducted.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  7. Mar 17, 1972 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to staggered terms in the St. Helena Parish School Board plan

    In a letter of March 17, 1972, the Justice Department answered a January 31, 1972 submission, made under Section 5 and a November 30, 1971 court order, of reapportionment plans adopted by the parish school board on January 27, 1972. The Attorney General did not object to the redistricting aspects of the plan, which provides for six single-member districts. The letter objected to the part of the plan that delays full implementation by providing staggered election of school board members over four years, noting that the court order apparently required election of all members that year and that District Two, a 74% black district, "would for the next two years be represented by a nonresident incumbent." It states "You have presented no justification, and none occurs to us, to overcome these two problems. Accordingly, we must object to that portion of the plan which provides for its implementation over a four-year period."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  8. Jan 12, 1972 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the St. Mary Parish School Board reapportionment plan

    In a letter of January 12, 1972, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for the St. Mary Parish School Board. Recalling the June 26, 1969 objection to Acts 445 and 561, it states "Because of our earlier objection to the enabling legislation, I must advise you that the Attorney General cannot approve your school board reapportionment plan which creates special school board election districts different from the police jury ward boundaries," citing Dyer v. Love, and adds that the Attorney General "is without power to supersede the Louisiana legislature by carving out exceptions for particular parishes."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

1971

  1. Dec 28, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the revised East Feliciana Parish redistricting plan

    In a letter of December 28, 1971, the Justice Department addressed a redistricting plan for East Feliciana Parish submitted on October 26, 1971. It found aspects of the plan "which make it impossible for the Attorney General to reach a determination that the plan does not have a discriminatory purpose or effect," including a small enclave of District 1, approximately 95% white, that is non-contiguous with the rest of the district, which is about 70% black, and is virtually surrounded by District 2. Citing Gomillion v. Lightfoot, the letter says the reapportionment "could have been accomplished in a manner which would have avoided the effect of adversely affecting the Negro voting strength," and "for the foregoing reason I must, on behalf of the Attorney General, object to the proposed plan."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  2. Nov 2, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the St. James Parish police jury reapportionment plan

    In a letter of November 2, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for the St. James Parish Police Jury. It said that, based on its analysis, "we are unable to conclude that the proposed districting will not have a discriminatory effect," because the boundary between proposed Wards 2 and 3 runs through the middle of a large black concentration in the town of Lutcher that the old plan kept entirely in one ward, adding "It appears that other alternatives exist which would avoid this racial effect. Under these circumstances I must, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection." The letter also noted apparent deviations from one-person, one-vote.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  3. Oct 8, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Caddo Parish School Board reapportionment plan

    In a letter of October 8, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for the Caddo Parish School Board. It recalls the June 26, 1969 objection to Acts 561 and 445, says Act 319 of 1970 had not been submitted under Section 5 and "its provisions may not be given effect until compliance with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act has been completed," citing Perkins v. Matthews, Allen v. State Board of Elections and Dyer v. Love, and concludes "I must advise you that the Attorney General cannot approve the school district reapportionment and reorganization plan based on the provisions of those Acts which have not met the requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  4. Oct 8, 1971 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the St. Helena Parish Police Jury's August 1971 election-procedure resolution

    In a letter dated October 8, 1971, the Justice Department answered a letter of August 5, 1971 enclosing a St. Helena Parish Police Jury resolution on reapportioning the police jury wards. It recalls that the statute permitting fewer than five police jury wards (Act 445, 1968) was objected to on June 26, 1969 and concludes: "Because of this earlier objection to the enabling legislation and court decisions affecting the statutory power or authority of the local election authorities to adopt a redistricting plan of this type, I must conclude that St. Helena Parish does not have authority to provide for the election procedure submitted on August 5, 1971." It adds: "I must, on behalf of the Attorney General, interpose an objection to the implementation of the resolution adopted August 5, 1971, regarding the changes in the election procedure of St. Helena Parish."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  5. Sep 20, 1971 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the East Feliciana Parish police jury redistricting plan

    In a letter of September 20, 1971, the Justice Department addressed a July 19, 1971 submission of a redistricting plan for the East Feliciana Parish police jury wards. Recalling the June 26, 1969 objection to Act 445, it states "I must advise you that the Attorney General objects to an apportionment plan by East Feliciana Parish which incorporates these same characteristics," and "we must conclude that the police jury lacks power to provide for at-large elections." It adds that "this plan may very well be objectionable on its merits": six of the eight existing districts were majority Negro, the parish was 53.1% black overall but majority white in voting-age population, and "the dilutive effect on the parish's black voting strength would seem clear."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  6. Sep 20, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Natchitoches Parish School Board reapportionment plan

    In a letter of September 20, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for the Natchitoches Parish School Board. Recalling the June 26, 1969 objection to Acts 445 and 561, it states "Because of our earlier objection to the enabling legislation, I must advise you that the Attorney General cannot approve your school board reapportionment plan which creates special school board election districts different from the police jury ward boundaries," citing Dyer v. Love, and that the Attorney General "is without power to supersede the Louisiana legislature by carving out exceptions for particular parishes."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  7. Sep 14, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Webster Parish: Redistricting (police jury)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated September 14, 1971, to Webster Parish. The list describes the change as "Redistricting (police jury)." The list adds the note "8/6/1971 Withdrawn 9-14-71." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  8. Aug 20, 1971 State Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to Louisiana's 1971 House and Senate reapportionment enactments

    In a letter listed as dated August 20, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the enactments amending Sections 35 and 35.1 of Title 24 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes reapportioning the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives, received July 2, 1971 with further material received July 21 and 26. Citing Fairley v. Patterson and Perkins v. Matthews, it describes combinations of majority-Negro parishes with majority-white areas in multi-member districts, including a seven-member district elected at large that merges majority-black DeSoto Parish with predominantly white Caddo Parish, and concludes: "our review of this plan indicates that there are apparent racially discriminatory effects in both houses of the legislature in widely disparate parts of the state, and that to correct these effects the plan would have to be substantially revised in whole or in part." The letter adds that it was furnishing a copy to the three-judge federal court that had deferred proceedings awaiting the Attorney General's determination.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  9. Aug 9, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Pointe Coupee Parish police jury reapportionment plan

    In a letter of August 9, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for police jury wards in Pointe Coupee Parish. It says that under the plan Ward 5, "which has a substantial black majority and a number of black elected officials, would be merged with Wards 4 and 6," so the new double-member district "would have a majority white population," and states "It is our view that this aspect of the plan unnecessarily discriminates against black candidates and voters. Therefore, I must on behalf of the Attorney General interpose an objection to the plan."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  10. Aug 6, 1971 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to at-large election of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury

    In a letter of August 6, 1971, the Justice Department addressed a DeSoto Parish Police Jury ordinance changing from ward-by-ward to at-large election of the police jurors. Recalling the June 26, 1969 objection to Act 445, it says that "because of his earlier objection to the enabling legislation and federal court decisions affecting at-large election problems, I must advise that the Attorney General objects to that apportionment plan by DeSoto Parish which incorporates these same characteristics," citing Dyer v. Love, and that the Attorney General "is without power to supersede the Louisiana Legislature by carving out exceptions for particular counties." It notes the parish may seek a judgment from the District Court for the District of Columbia.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  11. Aug 6, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the East Baton Rouge Parish Council expansion

    In a letter of August 6, 1971, the Justice Department addressed East Baton Rouge Parish's application to change the membership of the Parish Council under the Plan of Government. It found that adding a member to the council for Ward 3 would give that ward 22,793 residents per member, 12.1% under the ideal of 25,924, while Ward 2 would be at 36,809 per member, 42% over, a total variation of 54.1%. The letter says this "deviates so far from the 'one-man, one-vote' requirements applied by the Supreme Court as to make this plan legally unenforceable" and that "we are technically required to enter an objection to the plan," suggesting the council devise another plan meeting those requirements.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  12. Jul 30, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Bossier Parish School Board reapportionment plan

    In a letter of July 30, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for the Bossier Parish School Board. It recalls the June 26, 1969 objection to Acts 445 and 561 and states "Because of our earlier objection to the enabling legislation, I must advise you that the Attorney General cannot approve your School Board apportionment plan which creates special school board election districts different from the police jury ward boundaries," and that the Attorney General "is without power to supersede the Louisiana legislature by carving out exceptions for particular parishes."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  13. Jul 23, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Ascension Parish Police Jury reapportionment plan

    In a letter of July 23, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the Ascension Parish Police Jury's reapportionment plan and the creation of one new polling place, submitted in letters of March 10, April 29 and May 20, 1971. The Attorney General did not object to the new polling place, but on the plan stated: "I must inform you that the Attorney General is unable at this time to conclude that the reapportionment plan does not have the purpose and effect of denying or abridging the right of the Negro citizens of Ascension Parish to vote on account of race or color. For this reason, on behalf of the Attorney General I must interpose an objection to your proposed reapportionment." It notes that before reapportionment three of nine single-member wards had black majorities while the plan has four multi-member wards and only two single-member wards, and that the plan deviates from equal representation by 16.7 percent.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  14. Jul 23, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board apportionment plan

    In a letter of July 23, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for the Jefferson Davis Parish School Board. It recalls the objection of June 26, 1969 to Acts 445 and 561 and an objection it interposed on June 4, 1971 to the implementation of the Jefferson Davis police jury reapportionment, and states "Because of our earlier objections to the enabling legislation and the police jury reapportionment, I must advise you that the Attorney General cannot approve your School Board apportionment plan which creates special school board election districts different from the police jury ward boundaries." It also notes it received no statement of the statutory place numbers within each ward, and that the Attorney General is "without power to supersede the Louisiana Legislature by carving out exceptions for particular counties."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  15. Jul 22, 1971 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to at-large election of the St. Charles Parish Police Jury

    In a letter of July 22, 1971, the Justice Department addressed a St. Charles Parish Police Jury proposal to change from ward-to-ward to at-large election of police jurors. It states "I must advise you that the Attorney General objects to the implementation of the St. Charles Police Jury reapportionment plan," recalls the June 26, 1969 objection to Acts 445 and 561, and says "it appears that St. Charles Parish does not have authority to elect police jurors on an at-large basis. This incapacity is not cured by retention of ward residency requirements," citing Dyer v. Love.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  16. Jul 8, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Assumption Parish School Board reapportionment plan

    In a letter listed as dated July 8, 1971, the Justice Department addressed the reapportionment plan for the Assumption Parish School Board. It recalls its June 26, 1969 objection to the implementation of Act 445 and Act 561, which authorized special school board election districts different from police jury wards and at-large elections for school board members, and says "Because of this earlier objection to the enabling legislation, we feel constrained to object to your School Board apportionment plan which creates special school board election districts different from the police jury ward boundaries." It adds that in light of Whitcomb v. Chavis (June 7, 1971) the Department was re-examining its objections to the two Acts and would say so if it withdrew them.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  17. Jul 8, 1971 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to the Franklin Parish Police Jury reapportionment ordinance

    In a letter listed as dated July 8, 1971, the Justice Department addressed Ordinance No. 3233 reapportioning Franklin Parish, submitted to the Attorney General. Recalling the June 26, 1969 objection to Acts 445 and 561, it says that "because of his earlier objection to the enabling legislation and federal court decisions affecting at-large election problems, we feel constrained to object to an apportionment plan for Franklin Parish which incorporates these same characteristics," citing Dyer v. Love, and that "we must conclude that the Attorney General of the United States is without power to supersede the Louisiana legislature by carving out exceptions for particular counties." The letter adds that, in light of Whitcomb v. Chavis (June 7, 1971), the Department was re-examining its earlier objections and invited resubmission of the ordinance.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  18. Jun 18, 1971 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Tangipahoa Parish: Implementation of Acts 445 and 561

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Louisiana records an objection letter dated June 18, 1971, to Tangipahoa Parish. The list describes the change as "Implementation of Acts 445 and 561." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  19. Jun 4, 1971 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a multi-member district in the Jefferson Davis Parish police jury plan

    In a letter of June 4, 1971, the Justice Department addressed changes in the Jefferson Davis Parish Police Jury election districts, submitted March 10 and April 1, 1971. It said the Attorney General "does not interpose an objection to the reapportionment except as noted below," and that, relying on the three-judge court in Chavis v. Whitcomb, which "prohibits the technique of multi-member districts where such districts tend to minimize the voting strength of cognizable racial minorities," the Attorney General "cannot approve a redistricting plan involving the creation of a multi-member district such as proposed for District 2," where the available statistics showed the Negro minority located so that its vote is minimized in the multi-member district. The letter adds that the resulting districts deviate substantially from one-man, one-vote requirements, and invites a new plan.

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  20. May 14, 1971 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to at-large election of the St. Helena Parish Police Jury

    In a letter of May 14, 1971, the Justice Department addressed a St. Helena Parish Police Jury resolution changing from ward-by-ward to at-large election of police jurors. It recalls that the Attorney General objected on June 26, 1969 to the implementation of Act 445 (1968), which permitted at-large election of police jurors, and Act 561 (school boards), and says "it appears that St. Helena Parish does not have authority to elect police jurors on an at-large basis," citing Dyer v. Love (N.D. Miss. 1969). The letter says "we must conclude that the Attorney General of the United States is without power to supersede the Louisiana legislature by carving out exceptions for particular counties. Instead, the solution would seem to lie with the Louisiana legislature."

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

1969

  1. Jun 26, 1969 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Attorney General objects to Louisiana's 1968 acts allowing at-large elections of police juries and school boards

    On June 26, 1969, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to Act 445 (1968), which concerned at-large elections for parish police juries, and Act 561 (1968), which concerned at-large elections for parish school boards. A May 14, 1971 Justice Department letter to a St. Helena Parish district attorney recounts that the implementation of both acts was objected to on June 26, 1969. The Department's index later records the objections as withdrawn, for Act 561 on April 14, 1972 and for Act 445 on November 20, 1995.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

Nationwide

2026

  1. Oct 26, 2026 National Courts and officials Pending

    Homeland Security appeals the injunction on its election field operations to the Ninth Circuit

    On October 26, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security, its component agencies and the officials named in California Nurses Association v. Mullin (N.D. Cal., No. 4:26-cv-10680) filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit from Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín's October 21 order granting a preliminary injunction against certain election-related field operations in nine states.

    Related: Federal judge bars Homeland Security election field operations aimed at people believed to be citizens in nine states

    Source last checked Oct 27, 2026

  2. Oct 23, 2026 National Courts and officials Pending

    Democratic plaintiffs ask for fast-tracked discovery in their suit over federal pressure on election officials

    On October 23, 2026, the plaintiffs in DSCC v. Trump (No. 1:26-cv-03674-JEB, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) filed a motion for expedited discovery. The plaintiffs are the DSCC, the DCCC, the Democratic Governors Association, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem S. Jeffries, the Nevada State Democratic Party and Erick Jose Jimenez. The motion asks for all non-privileged communications the defendants have sent since July 1, 2026 to state or local election officials demanding or requesting that they remove specific registered voters from statewide lists, refuse ballots to specific voters, or set aside or not count ballots returned by specific voters, plus answers to interrogatories. It says the plaintiffs are "seriously contemplating" a request for emergency relief before the November 3 election, and cites an October 21, 2026 order allowing narrow expedited discovery in NAACP v. DHS in the same court.

    Related: Democratic leaders and party committees sue to bar federal orders removing voters or holding back ballots

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Oct 21, 2026 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal judge bars Homeland Security election field operations aimed at people believed to be citizens in nine states

    On October 21, 2026, Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction in California Nurses Association v. Mullin (No. 4:26-cv-10680), a suit by the California Nurses Association, National Nurses United, the City and County of San Francisco, the County of Santa Clara and the Voto Latino Foundation. The order says that in August 2026 the Department of Homeland Security started an "Unlawful Voter Initiative" that had Citizenship and Immigration Services build lists of people to investigate, and that an August 31 guidance told agents to prioritize field questioning about voter eligibility in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. The court enjoined the department from election-related field operations and interviews in those nine states that involve people it knows, suspects or should reasonably suspect are U.S. citizens, and from field operations there based wholly on records from its voter eligibility matching. The order runs until polls close on November 3, 2026, and was stayed until 5 p.m. on October 23, 2026.

    Related: Homeland Security appeals the injunction on its election field operations to the Ninth Circuit

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. Oct 20, 2026 National Polling places and drop boxes Reported

    Justice Department begins notifying counties it wants to monitor on Election Day 2026

    NPR reported on October 21, 2026 that the Justice Department began notifying counties it wants to monitor on Election Day starting Tuesday, October 20. NPR confirmed notices to Adams County, Colorado; seven counties in Texas; King County, Washington; Miami-Dade County, Florida; and Hennepin and Ramsey counties in Minnesota. NPR reports that state officials were at first not notified at the same time as counties, and that a department spokesperson said it prioritizes places with competitive elections and would monitor Adams County because it is covered by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. Colorado's Secretary of State's office told NPR it was considering how to respond, since state rules require observers to have its permission unless a court orders otherwise.

    Related: Justice Department tells Marion County it will send election monitors on November 3; Lake County also named · Justice Department plans election monitors in Bibb, Chatham, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties · Washington County Election Commission votes to keep Justice Department monitors out of polling places

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  5. Oct 15, 2026 National Courts and officials Withdrawn

    Appeals in the Massachusetts Executive Order 14399 and Postal Service cases are voluntarily dismissed

    On October 15, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit entered judgment in Nos. 26-1987, 26-1988, 26-1989 and 26-1991, appeals in State of California v. United States Postal Service and League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump. Upon the appellants' unopposed motions, the court ordered "that these appeals be voluntarily dismissed" under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 42(b)(2), with the mandate to issue forthwith. The judgment was entered on the district court docket on October 16, 2026.

    Related: Federal court in Massachusetts enjoins Postal Service implementation of Section 3 of Executive Order 14399 · First Circuit refuses to stay the Massachusetts preliminary injunction against parts of the Postal Service ballot-mail rule

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  6. Oct 9, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Federal court vacates Justice Department voter-roll policy in Common Cause v. Department of Justice

    On October 9, 2026, Judge Sparkle Sooknanan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted summary judgment to the plaintiffs, who challenged a Civil Rights Division policy of demanding state voter registration lists and urging removals. The opinion says "The Court therefore sets aside and vacates the challenged policy under the Administrative Procedure Act." The Justice Department argued it has statutory authority for the policy.

    Related: Justice Department sues Oregon and Maine for statewide voter registration lists · Justice Department's voter roll lawsuits reach 29 states and the District of Columbia

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  7. October 2026 National Courts and officials Pending

    Democratic leaders and party committees sue to bar federal orders removing voters or holding back ballots

    The Associated Press reported on October 21, 2026 that Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Governors Association sued in federal court in Washington (the AP says the suit was filed Tuesday, October 20). The suit names President Trump, the Justice Department, Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Markwayne Mullin. It asks for an order barring the administration from removing legally registered voters from statewide voter lists or denying ballots to them, and a ruling that the administration illegally threatened state election officials with prosecution. It cites the Justice Department's suit over California mail ballots. The AP reports the case was assigned to Chief Judge James Boasberg and that the Justice Department said its actions are grounded in law.

    Related: Justice Department sues California over about 20,000 registrants it calls likely noncitizens · Democratic plaintiffs ask for fast-tracked discovery in their suit over federal pressure on election officials

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  8. Sep 25, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court grants stay in Department of Homeland Security v. League of Women Voters, on voter citizenship checks

    On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a per curiam order on an application for stay, granted the government's request in a case about the modified SAVE program, which lets state and local agencies check the citizenship status of registered voters against Social Security Administration records. The Court said it was "likely to reverse the District Court's holding that the federal defendants violated the Social Security Act, the Privacy Act, and the APA." The order says that Executive Order 14248 directed the Department of Homeland Security to put new systems in place for that purpose.

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14248 on federal elections

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  9. Sep 18, 2026 National Polling places and drop boxes Pending

    Civil rights and labor groups sue over possible federal immigration agents near polling places

    On September 18, 2026, a coalition of nine civil rights and union groups sued in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to prevent the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling locations in November. States Newsroom reported it as the second such suit that month. The groups argue the policy violates the federal law that bars "armed men" at election sites and the Voting Rights Act's bar on intimidation. A Justice Department spokesperson said: "The DOJ has never said it would send federal law enforcement to polling locations." A Homeland Security spokesperson said ICE was not planning operations that targeted polling locations. No ruling is recorded here.

    Related: Latino and voting groups and the City of Denver sue over armed immigration agents at polling places · Arlington County sues to keep armed federal agents away from its polling places

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  10. Sep 13, 2026 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal court in Washington enjoins the Postal Service ballot mail rule

    On September 13, 2026, Judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted preliminary injunctions against the Postal Service's final ballot-mail rule in three consolidated cases. The opinion says "no statute grants the Postal Service the power to issue key parts of the Rule" and that plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their claim that the rule was ultra vires.

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots · Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections · Federal court in Washington denies preliminary injunctions against Executive Order 14399

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  11. Sep 10, 2026 National Maps and lines Proposed

    Census Bureau proposes residence criteria for the 2030 census that would exclude some noncitizens from the apportionment count

    On September 10, 2026 the Census Bureau, an agency of the Department of Commerce, published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (91 FR 57524, Docket No. 260903-0005, RIN 0607-AA75) that would add two new parts to the Code of Federal Regulations: residence criteria for the decennial census, and standards and restrictions for demographic questions on the census questionnaire. On residence, the notice states that "the Census Bureau proposes to include lawful permanent residents within the apportionment base, while excluding from the apportionment base illegal aliens and aliens whose legal status is less durable and indefinite in length than lawful permanent resident status," and says it is considering using administrative records to determine legal status. The comment period, first set to end October 13, 2026, was extended to November 2, 2026 by a notice published October 5, 2026. Al Jazeera and CNBC reported on the proposal, and CNBC reported that opponents expect litigation.

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  12. Sep 10, 2026 National Polling places and drop boxes Pending

    Latino and voting groups and the City of Denver sue over armed immigration agents at polling places

    On September 10, 2026, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Common Cause, Common Cause Education Fund, UnidosUS and the City and County of Denver, Colorado filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (No. 1:26-cv-03157) against the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and their leaders. The complaint alleges that the Homeland Security Secretary's statements of September 1, 2026 set a policy of authorizing armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to go to polling places, which the plaintiffs say violates 18 U.S.C. § 592, the law that bars federal officials from keeping "any troops or armed men at any place where a general or special election is held" except to repel armed enemies of the United States. No ruling is recorded in this entry.

    Related: Civil rights and labor groups sue over possible federal immigration agents near polling places

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  13. Sep 10, 2026 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    First Circuit refuses to stay the Massachusetts preliminary injunction against parts of the Postal Service ballot-mail rule

    On September 4, 2026, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered a memorandum and order granting the plaintiffs' motions for a preliminary injunction in League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump and the related states' case (Nos. 1:26-cv-11549 and 1:26-cv-13917), and the federal defendants and twelve intervening states appealed the same day. On September 10, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (Nos. 26-2029 to 26-2032) denied the motions for a stay. Its order says the district court concluded the final rule was likely unconstitutional and found it would be impossible for states to comply in the time left before November 3, and that the appellants "have failed to meet their burden for disturbing any aspect of the district court's preliminary injunction order." The Postal Service's request for an administrative stay was denied as moot.

    Related: Federal court in Massachusetts temporarily stays parts of the Postal Service ballot-mail rule for the 2026 election · Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections · Appeals in the Massachusetts Executive Order 14399 and Postal Service cases are voluntarily dismissed

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  14. Aug 27, 2026 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal court in Massachusetts temporarily stays parts of the Postal Service ballot-mail rule for the 2026 election

    On August 27, 2026, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted in part the plaintiffs' motions for a temporary restraining order in League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump (No. 1:26-cv-11549) and State of California v. United States Postal Service (No. 1:26-cv-13917). The court granted "an emergency fourteen-day stay" of listed sections of the final rule as to elections on or before November 3, 2026, including the sections making the ballot mail envelope standards and registration in the Postal Service Federal Ballot Mail Portal mandatory, and ordered that the Postal Service defendants "may take no further preparatory steps" to implement them for those elections. The motions for preliminary injunctions remained under advisement.

    Related: Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections · Federal court in Massachusetts finds the government violated its injunction by issuing the Postal Service ballot-mail rule · First Circuit refuses to stay the Massachusetts preliminary injunction against parts of the Postal Service ballot-mail rule

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  15. Aug 26, 2026 National Laws and rules Blocked by a court

    Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections

    The Postal Service's final rule "Ballot Mail for Federal Elections" was published August 26, 2026 and states that it is effective August 21, 2026. It says it responds to Executive Order 14399 and received "more than 200,000 responses" during the comment period. The rule says that, because of injunctions in two Massachusetts cases, the Postal Service "will not take actions to implement the rule specifically for the 2026 election" unless the government obtains relief from them. On September 13, 2026, a federal court in Washington granted preliminary injunctions against the rule.

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots · Postal Service proposes a rule on ballot mail for federal elections · Federal court in Washington enjoins the Postal Service ballot mail rule · Federal court in Massachusetts finds the government violated its injunction by issuing the Postal Service ballot-mail rule · Federal court in Massachusetts temporarily stays parts of the Postal Service ballot-mail rule for the 2026 election · First Circuit refuses to stay the Massachusetts preliminary injunction against parts of the Postal Service ballot-mail rule

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  16. Aug 25, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Federal court in Massachusetts finds the government violated its injunction by issuing the Postal Service ballot-mail rule

    On August 25, 2026, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled on an emergency motion to enforce the preliminary injunction in League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump (No. 1:26-cv-11549). The order says the Postal Service completed rulemaking on Friday evening, August 21, 2026, by sending a final rule implementing Section 3 of Executive Order 14399 to the Office of the Federal Register, although the injunction barred "initiating or completing rulemaking" for the November 3, 2026 election. The court "finds that Defendants violated the court's Preliminary Injunction but imposes no remedy other than identifying the violation."

    Related: Federal court in Massachusetts enjoins Postal Service implementation of Section 3 of Executive Order 14399 · Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections · Federal court in Massachusetts temporarily stays parts of the Postal Service ballot-mail rule for the 2026 election

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  17. Aug 24, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court stays the Massachusetts injunction against parts of Executive Order 14399 in Trump v. California

    On August 24, 2026, in No. 26A124 (with No. 26A139), the Supreme Court granted the Government's application for a stay in a per curiam opinion. The Court wrote that "the Government is likely to prevail on the merits of its argument that the District Court lacked jurisdiction to enter the judgment," because the Order "imposes no obligations on the States" and the States had not shown an injury that gives them standing. The injunction entered in No. 1:26-cv-11581 (D. Mass.) is stayed pending appeal to the First Circuit and any petition for certiorari. The Court added that its ruling "does not mean that any measure taken by the Government to implement the Order will necessarily be lawful." Justices Sotomayor and Jackson filed dissents. The application in No. 26A139 was denied as moot.

    Related: Federal court in Massachusetts declares parts of Executive Order 14399 void in a suit by states · President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  18. Aug 17, 2026 National Courts and officials Pending

    Justice Department appeals the dismissal of its District of Columbia voter-list suit

    On August 17, 2026, the United States filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from the August 6, 2026 memorandum opinion and order denying its motion to compel records in United States v. Evans (No. 1:25-cv-04403).

    Related: Federal judge dismisses the Justice Department's suit for the District of Columbia's voter registration list

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  19. Aug 11, 2026 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal court in Massachusetts enjoins Postal Service implementation of Section 3 of Executive Order 14399

    On August 11, 2026, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted a renewed motion for a preliminary injunction in League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump. As to elections on or before November 3, 2026, the court "ENJOINS the USPS's implementation of Section 3 of the EO."

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots · Federal court in Massachusetts declares parts of Executive Order 14399 void in a suit by states · Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections · Federal court in Massachusetts finds the government violated its injunction by issuing the Postal Service ballot-mail rule · Appeals in the Massachusetts Executive Order 14399 and Postal Service cases are voluntarily dismissed

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  20. Aug 6, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Federal judge dismisses the Justice Department's suit for the District of Columbia's voter registration list

    On August 6, 2026, Judge Randolph D. Moss of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied the United States' motion to compel in United States v. Evans (No. 1:25-cv-04403), dismissed the case, and denied the defendants' and intervenors' motions to dismiss as moot, stating that the order was a final judgment. The order refers to a memorandum opinion filed the same day. The lead defendant is Monica H. Evans, executive director of the District of Columbia Board of Elections.

    Related: Justice Department's voter roll lawsuits reach 29 states and the District of Columbia

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  21. Jul 22, 2026 National Laws and rules Failed

    House passes bill with a photo-ID voting requirement; Senate cloture vote fails, 53-47, on September 30, 2026

    On July 22, 2026, the House passed H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, by 232 to 198 (Roll no. 280). Section 3 of the House-passed text is titled "Requiring voters to provide photo identification." On September 30, 2026, the Senate voted 53 to 47 on cloture on the motion to proceed, and the bill record says cloture was "not invoked" (Record Vote 253).

    Related: House passes SAVE America Act text as an amendment to S. 1383, 218-213

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  22. Jun 29, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Watson v. Republican National Committee

    On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "The federal election-day statutes do not prevent Mississippi from counting absentee ballots postmarked by election day but received up to five days thereafter; nothing in the federal election-day statutes requires ballots to be received by election day."

    Related: Supreme Court decides Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  23. Jun 25, 2026 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal court in Massachusetts declares parts of Executive Order 14399 void in a suit by states

    On June 25, 2026, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted summary judgment to a group of states and the District of Columbia. The court ordered and declared that "Sections 2 and 3 of the EO are legally void as they are ultra vires and unconstitutionally violate the separation of powers, and that Section 5 of the EO is merely precatory," and enjoined agencies from implementing Sections 2 and 3 for the November 3, 2026 or any earlier federal election in the plaintiff states.

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots · Federal court in Massachusetts enjoins Postal Service implementation of Section 3 of Executive Order 14399

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  24. Jun 2, 2026 National Laws and rules Proposed

    Postal Service proposes a rule on ballot mail for federal elections

    On June 2, 2026, the Postal Service published a proposed rule, "Ballot Mail for Federal Elections," to amend its Domestic Mail Manual on the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for federal elections. The final rule says the comment period closed on July 2, 2026.

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots · Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  25. May 28, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Federal court in Washington denies preliminary injunctions against Executive Order 14399

    On May 28, 2026, Judge Carl Nichols of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied motions for preliminary injunctions in three consolidated cases against Executive Order 14399. On the postal-rulemaking provision the court wrote that, because the Postal Service had not yet issued a proposed rule, "Plaintiffs' claims are not ripe."

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots · Federal court in Washington enjoins the Postal Service ballot mail rule

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  26. May 18, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court vacates the Eighth Circuit judgment in Turtle Mountain v. Howe and remands in light of Louisiana v. Callais

    On May 18, 2026, the Supreme Court granted the petition in No. 25-253, vacated the Eighth Circuit's judgment and remanded the case for further consideration in light of Louisiana v. Callais. Justice Jackson dissented, writing that the case "presents only the question of Section 2's private enforceability, which our decision in Louisiana v. Callais ... did not address," and that she would summarily reverse. The docket records the Court's judgment as issued on June 22, 2026.

    Related: Eighth Circuit holds private plaintiffs cannot use Section 1983 to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act · Supreme Court stays Eighth Circuit mandate in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe · Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais · Supreme Court vacates the Eighth Circuit judgment and remands in light of Louisiana v. Callais

    Source last checked Oct 21, 2026

  27. Apr 29, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais

    On April 29, 2026, after reargument on October 15, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court held: "Because the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district, no compelling interest justified the State's use of race in creating SB8, and that map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander."

    Related: Supreme Court decides Allen v. Milligan · Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law · Supreme Court decides Thornburg v. Gingles

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  28. Mar 31, 2026 National Laws and rules In effect

    President signs Executive Order 14399 on citizenship verification and mail ballots

    Executive Order 14399, "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections," is dated March 31, 2026 and was published in the Federal Register on April 3, 2026. Section 2 directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile and transmit to each state a "State Citizenship List." Section 3 directs the Postmaster General to begin a rulemaking on mail-in and absentee ballots within 60 days. Courts later enjoined parts of the Postal Service rule that followed.

    Related: Postal Service issues final rule on ballot mail for federal elections · Federal court in Washington denies preliminary injunctions against Executive Order 14399 · Federal court in Washington enjoins the Postal Service ballot mail rule · Federal court in Massachusetts declares parts of Executive Order 14399 void in a suit by states · Federal court in Massachusetts enjoins Postal Service implementation of Section 3 of Executive Order 14399

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  29. Feb 26, 2026 National Courts and officials Pending

    Justice Department's voter roll lawsuits reach 29 states and the District of Columbia

    On February 26, 2026, the Justice Department announced lawsuits against Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia and New Jersey over their full voter registration lists. Court outcomes in the individual suits are not recorded in this entry. The release says this "brings the Justice Department's nationwide total to 29 states and the District of Columbia."

    Related: Justice Department sues Oregon and Maine for statewide voter registration lists · Federal court vacates Justice Department voter-roll policy in Common Cause v. Department of Justice · Federal judge dismisses the Justice Department's suit for Colorado's voter registration list · Federal judge dismisses the Justice Department's suit for Connecticut's voter registration list · Federal judge dismisses the Justice Department's suit for Arizona's voter registration list · Federal judge dismisses the Justice Department's suit for the District of Columbia's voter registration list

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  30. Feb 11, 2026 National Laws and rules Failed

    House passes SAVE America Act text as an amendment to S. 1383, 218-213

    On February 11, 2026, the House passed S. 1383 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, by 218 to 213 (Roll no. 69). The House-passed text is titled the "SAVE America Act." On March 17, 2026, the Senate agreed 51 to 48 to a motion to proceed to the House message on S. 1383 (Record Vote 57). On March 21, 2026, a cloture vote on a related motion was "not invoked" by 41 to 49 (Record Vote 61). The bill record lists no final Senate vote, and it did not become law.

    Related: House passes SAVE Act, 220-208; Senate does not act · House passes bill with a photo-ID voting requirement; Senate cloture vote fails, 53-47, on September 30, 2026

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  31. Jan 14, 2026 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections

    On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "As a candidate for office, Congressman Bost has standing to challenge the rules that govern the counting of votes in his election."

    Related: Supreme Court decides Watson v. Republican National Committee

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

2025

  1. Nov 24, 2025 National Laws and rules In effect

    Postal Service adds a Domestic Mail Manual section defining postmarks

    On November 24, 2025, the Postal Service published a final rule adding section 608.11, "Postmarks and Postal Possession," to the Domestic Mail Manual, effective December 24, 2025. It says the new language "does not change any existing postal operations or postmarking practices" and is intended to improve public understanding of postmarks and the date of mailing.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Oct 31, 2025 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal court permanently bars the Election Assistance Commission from implementing Section 2(a) of Executive Order 14248

    On October 31, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted partial summary judgment to the plaintiffs and permanently enjoined the Election Assistance Commission, its commissioners and its executive director from implementing Section 2(a) of Executive Order 14248. The court wrote that "this Court holds that the President lacks the authority to direct such changes" to federal election procedures.

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14248 on federal elections · Federal court in Washington blocks parts of Executive Order 14248

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Oct 24, 2025 National Polling places and drop boxes In effect

    Justice Department announces it will monitor polling sites in six California and New Jersey counties

    On October 24, 2025, the Justice Department announced that it would monitor polling sites ahead of the November 4, 2025 general election in six jurisdictions: Passaic County, New Jersey, and Kern, Riverside, Fresno, Orange and Los Angeles counties, California. The release says the Civil Rights Division would deploy personnel who would coordinate with U.S. Attorney's Offices.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  4. Sep 16, 2025 National Courts and officials Pending

    Justice Department sues Oregon and Maine for statewide voter registration lists

    On September 16, 2025, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division announced lawsuits against Oregon and Maine and their secretaries of state, alleging violations of the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 by refusing to provide unredacted statewide voter registration lists and information on voter list maintenance. Court outcomes in the individual suits are not recorded in this entry.

    Related: Justice Department's voter roll lawsuits reach 29 states and the District of Columbia · Federal court vacates Justice Department voter-roll policy in Common Cause v. Department of Justice

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  5. Jul 24, 2025 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court stays Eighth Circuit mandate in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe

    On July 24, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted an application in No. 25A62, staying the issuance of the mandate of the Eighth Circuit in No. 23-3655 pending the filing and disposition of a petition for certiorari. Justices Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch would have denied it. The applicants wrote that "private plaintiffs can no longer enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) in the Eighth Circuit" as a result of the decision below. Later steps in the case are not recorded in this entry.

    Related: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  6. Jun 13, 2025 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal court in Massachusetts blocks parts of Executive Order 14248 in a suit by 19 states

    On June 13, 2025, Judge Denise Casper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted a preliminary injunction in a suit by attorneys general of nineteen states. The court enjoined implementation of Sections 2(a), 2(d), 3(d), 7(a) and 7(b) of Executive Order 14248, and said the injunction as to Sections 2(a), 2(d) and 3(d) applies as to all states.

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14248 on federal elections · Federal court in Washington blocks parts of Executive Order 14248

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  7. May 14, 2025 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Eighth Circuit holds private plaintiffs cannot use Section 1983 to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act

    On May 14, 2025, a divided Eighth Circuit panel in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe, No. 23-3655, wrote that "private plaintiffs" cannot "maintain a private right of action for alleged violations of § 2 through 42 U.S.C. § 1983." It vacated the North Dakota district court's judgment and remanded with instructions that the case be dismissed for want of a cause of action. Chief Judge Colloton dissented, writing that he would affirm the district court's judgment. The panel relied on its 2023 decision in Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. Arkansas Board of Apportionment, which held that Section 2 has no implied private right of action.

    Related: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law · Supreme Court stays Eighth Circuit mandate in Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe · Eighth Circuit holds private plaintiffs cannot enforce Section 2 in the circuit and vacates the map ruling

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  8. Apr 24, 2025 National Courts and officials Blocked by a court

    Federal court in Washington blocks parts of Executive Order 14248

    On April 24, 2025, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted preliminary injunctions in three consolidated cases. The court enjoined the Election Assistance Commission from implementing Section 2(a) of Executive Order 14248 (documentary proof of citizenship on the federal voter registration form) and enjoined certain agencies from implementing Section 2(d). It denied the motions as to Sections 2(b), 7(a) and 7(b).

    Related: President signs Executive Order 14248 on federal elections · Federal court permanently bars the Election Assistance Commission from implementing Section 2(a) of Executive Order 14248

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  9. Apr 10, 2025 National Laws and rules Failed

    House passes SAVE Act, 220-208; Senate does not act

    On April 10, 2025, the House passed H.R. 22, the SAVE Act, by 220 to 208 (Roll no. 102). The bill was received in the Senate the same day; the bill record lists no later action, and it did not become law.

    Related: House passes SAVE America Act text as an amendment to S. 1383, 218-213

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  10. Mar 25, 2025 National Laws and rules In effect

    President signs Executive Order 14248 on federal elections

    Executive Order 14248, "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections," is dated March 25, 2025 and was published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2025. Section 2 is titled "Enforcing the Citizenship Requirement for Federal Elections," Section 4 "Improving the Election Assistance Commission," and Section 7 "Compliance with Federal Law Setting the National Election Day." Courts later enjoined parts of it.

    Related: Federal court in Washington blocks parts of Executive Order 14248 · Federal court permanently bars the Election Assistance Commission from implementing Section 2(a) of Executive Order 14248 · Supreme Court grants stay in Department of Homeland Security v. League of Women Voters, on voter citizenship checks · Federal court in Massachusetts blocks parts of Executive Order 14248 in a suit by 19 states

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2024

  1. May 23, 2024 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP

    On May 23, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "The District Court's finding that race predominated in the design of District 1 in the Enacted Plan was clearly erroneous" in a challenge to South Carolina's congressional map.

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  2. Mar 4, 2024 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Trump v. Anderson

    On March 4, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "Because the Constitution makes Congress, rather than the States, responsible for enforcing Section 3 against federal officeholders and candidates, the Colorado Supreme Court erred in ordering former President Trump excluded from Colorado's 2024 Presidential primary ballot."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2023

  1. Jun 27, 2023 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Moore v. Harper

    On June 27, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "The Elections Clause does not insulate state legislatures from the ordinary exercise of state judicial review." The case arose from a challenge to North Carolina's congressional map.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Jun 8, 2023 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Allen v. Milligan

    On June 8, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's finding that voters had shown a reasonable likelihood of success in claiming that the congressional map Alabama adopted for its 2022 elections (HB1) violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The lower court had preliminarily barred Alabama from using that map.

    Related: Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law · Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2022

  1. Dec 29, 2022 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 becomes law

    Division P of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328, signed December 29, 2022) may be cited as the "Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022." Title I may be cited as the "Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Jan 19, 2022 National Laws and rules Failed

    Senate cloture on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act fails, 49-51

    On January 19, 2022, the Senate voted 49 to 51 on cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, and cloture was "not invoked" (Record Vote 9). The bill record also lists a motion by Senator Schumer to appeal the ruling of the chair as "not agreed to," on the question "Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgement of the Senate," by 52 to 48 (Record Vote 10). The bill did not become law.

    Related: Senate vote to begin debate on the Freedom to Vote Act fails, 49-51 · House passes John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; Senate cloture vote on November 3, 2021 is 50-49 and fails

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2021

  1. Oct 20, 2021 National Laws and rules Failed

    Senate vote to begin debate on the Freedom to Vote Act fails, 49-51

    On October 20, 2021, the Senate voted 49 to 51 on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2747, the Freedom to Vote Act. The bill record says cloture was "not invoked" (Record Vote 420). The bill did not become law.

    Related: For the People Act of 2021 passes the House; Senate committee discharge vote is 50-49 and the bill stalls · Senate cloture on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act fails, 49-51

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Aug 24, 2021 National Laws and rules Failed

    House passes John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; Senate cloture vote on November 3, 2021 is 50-49 and fails

    On August 24, 2021, the House passed H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, by 219 to 212 (Roll no. 260). On November 3, 2021, a Senate vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to the companion bill, S. 4, was 50 to 49 and cloture was "not invoked" (Record Vote 459). Neither bill became law.

    Related: House passes Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019; no Senate vote follows · Senate cloture on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act fails, 49-51

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Aug 12, 2021 National Maps and lines Settled

    Census Bureau releases 2020 redistricting data for states

    On August 12, 2021, the Census Bureau released the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, which it described as delivering data for states to begin redistricting. On September 16, 2021, it released the same data in an easier-to-use format on data.census.gov and delivered a toolkit to states.

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  4. Jul 1, 2021 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee

    On July 1, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "Arizona's out-of-precinct policy and HB 2023 do not violate § 2 of the VRA, and HB 2023 was not enacted with a racially discriminatory purpose." The case concerned rules on counting ballots cast in the wrong precinct and on who may collect early ballots.

    Related: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  5. Apr 26, 2021 National Maps and lines Settled

    Census Bureau announces 2020 Census apportionment results

    On April 26, 2021, the Census Bureau announced that the 2020 Census resident population of the United States on April 1, 2020 was 331,449,281, and that Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo delivered the population counts used for apportionment of the U.S. House to the President.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  6. Mar 3, 2021 National Laws and rules Failed

    For the People Act of 2021 passes the House; Senate committee discharge vote is 50-49 and the bill stalls

    On March 3, 2021, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021, by 220 to 210 (Roll no. 62). On June 22, 2021, the Senate voted 50 to 50 (Roll call 246) on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2093, the For the People Act of 2021, which required 3/5 of the Senate; the Senate roll call records the result as "Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected." On August 11, 2021, the Senate voted 50 to 49 to discharge its Rules and Administration Committee from the companion bill, S. 1 (Roll call 358). The bill records list no Senate vote on passage, and neither bill became law.

    Related: House passes For the People Act of 2019; no Senate vote follows · Senate vote to begin debate on the Freedom to Vote Act fails, 49-51

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  7. Feb 10, 2021 National Polling places and drop boxes In effect

    Election Assistance Commission adopts Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0

    The Election Assistance Commission says that on February 10, 2021 its commissioners unanimously adopted version 2.0 of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, the specifications against which voting systems are tested. The EAC says it stopped using versions 1.0 and 1.1 to certify voting systems as of November 16, 2023, and that previously certified systems are not decertified by that change.

    Related: Help America Vote Act of 2002 becomes law

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2020

  1. Dec 11, 2020 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court denies Texas's motion to file a suit over other states' 2020 election procedures

    On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered in Texas v. Pennsylvania: "The State of Texas's motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution. Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2019

  1. Dec 6, 2019 National Laws and rules Failed

    House passes Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019; no Senate vote follows

    On December 6, 2019, the House passed H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019, by 228 to 187 (Roll no. 654). It was received in the Senate on December 9, 2019 and referred to the Judiciary Committee; the bill record lists no Senate vote, and it did not become law.

    Related: House passes John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; Senate cloture vote on November 3, 2021 is 50-49 and fails · Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Jun 27, 2019 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Department of Commerce v. New York, on a census citizenship question

    On June 27, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a challenge to the Commerce Secretary's decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. The syllabus says "The Enumeration Clause permits Congress, and by extension the Secretary, to inquire about citizenship on the census questionnaire," and the judgment was "affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Jun 27, 2019 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Rucho v. Common Cause

    On June 27, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided cases from North Carolina and Maryland in which voters challenged congressional maps as partisan. The Court held that such claims present "political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  4. Mar 8, 2019 National Laws and rules Failed

    House passes For the People Act of 2019; no Senate vote follows

    On March 8, 2019, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2019, by 234 to 193 (Roll no. 118). The bill was received in the Senate on March 12, 2019 and placed on the Senate calendar; the bill record lists no Senate vote on passage, and it did not become law.

    Related: For the People Act of 2021 passes the House; Senate committee discharge vote is 50-49 and the bill stalls

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2018

  1. Sep 12, 2018 National Laws and rules In effect

    President signs Executive Order 13848 on foreign interference in U.S. elections

    Executive Order 13848, dated September 12, 2018, imposes sanctions authority in the event of foreign interference in a U.S. election. The order says "there has been no evidence of a foreign power altering the outcome or vote tabulation in any United States election" and declares a national emergency over the threat of interference.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Jun 18, 2018 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Gill v. Whitford

    On June 18, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed a challenge to Wisconsin's state legislative map as a partisan one. The Court held that "The plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate Article III standing."

    Related: Supreme Court decides Rucho v. Common Cause

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  3. Jun 11, 2018 National Courts and officials Upheld

    Supreme Court decides Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute

    On June 11, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "The process that Ohio uses to remove voters on change-of-residence grounds does not violate the Failure-to-Vote Clause or any other part of the NVRA."

    Related: National Voter Registration Act of 1993 becomes law · Help America Vote Act of 2002 becomes law

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

  4. Jan 3, 2018 National Courts and officials Enacted

    President terminates the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

    Executive Order 13820, dated January 3, 2018 and published January 8, 2018, revoked Executive Order 13799 and states that "the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity is accordingly terminated."

    Related: President establishes the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2017

  1. May 22, 2017 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Cooper v. Harris

    On May 22, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed North Carolina's congressional Districts 1 and 12. The syllabus says the lower court "did not err in concluding that race furnished the predominant rationale for District 1's redesign and that the State's interest in complying with the VRA could not justify that consideration of race."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. May 11, 2017 National Courts and officials Enacted

    President establishes the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

    Executive Order 13799, dated May 11, 2017 and published May 16, 2017, established the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, chaired by the Vice President, to "study the registration and voting processes used in Federal elections."

    Related: President terminates the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Jan 6, 2017 National Polling places and drop boxes In effect

    Homeland Security designates election infrastructure as critical infrastructure

    On January 6, 2017, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he had determined "that election infrastructure in this country should be designated as a subsector of the existing Government Facilities critical infrastructure sector." The statement defines election infrastructure as including "storage facilities, polling places, and centralized vote tabulations locations" and voter registration databases and voting machines.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2016

  1. Apr 4, 2016 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Evenwel v. Abbott

    On April 4, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "a State or locality may draw its legislative districts based on total population," according to its syllabus.

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2013

  1. Jun 25, 2013 National Courts and officials Struck down

    Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    On June 25, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional and that its formula can no longer be used as a basis for requiring places to get federal approval ("preclearance") before changing voting procedures.

    Related: Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law · Supreme Court decides Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. One v. Holder · Voting Rights Act reauthorized and amended in 2006 · Supreme Court decides South Carolina v. Katzenbach

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. Jun 17, 2013 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona

    On June 17, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "Arizona's evidence-of-citizenship requirement, as applied to Federal Form applicants, is pre-empted by the NVRA's mandate that States 'accept and use' the Federal Form."

    Related: National Voter Registration Act of 1993 becomes law

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  3. Mar 28, 2013 National Courts and officials Enacted

    President establishes the Presidential Commission on Election Administration

    Executive Order 13639, dated March 28, 2013 and published April 3, 2013, established the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. The order says the commission "shall identify best practices and otherwise make recommendations to promote the efficient administration of elections."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2009

  1. Oct 28, 2009 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act becomes law

    Section 575 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84, dated October 28, 2009) may be cited as the "Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act." It adds a requirement that states transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter not later than 45 days before a federal election, when the request is received at least 45 days before it.

    Related: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act becomes law

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Jun 22, 2009 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. One v. Holder

    On June 22, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Voting Rights Act "must be interpreted to permit all political subdivisions, including the district, to seek to bail out from the preclearance requirements," and so did not decide the constitutional question. The syllabus also says the Act "now raises serious constitutional concerns."

    Related: Voting Rights Act reauthorized and amended in 2006 · Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  3. Mar 9, 2009 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Bartlett v. Strickland

    On March 9, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a North Carolina ruling. A three-Justice opinion concluded that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act "does not require state officials to draw election-district lines to allow a racial minority that would make up less than 50 percent of the voting-age population in the redrawn district to join with crossover voters to elect the minority's candidate of choice."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2008

  1. Apr 28, 2008 National Courts and officials Upheld

    Supreme Court decides Crawford v. Marion County Election Board

    On April 28, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the ruling upholding Indiana's photo identification law (SEA 483). Justice Stevens, joined by two other Justices, concluded that "the evidence in the record does not support a facial attack on SEA 483's validity."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2006

  1. Oct 20, 2006 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Purcell v. Gonzalez

    On October 20, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a Ninth Circuit order that had blocked Arizona's new voter identification requirements before the November election. The Court said that vacating the order "shall of necessity allow the election to proceed without an injunction suspending the requirements" and expressed "no opinion on the correct disposition of the appeals."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. Jul 27, 2006 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Voting Rights Act reauthorized and amended in 2006

    Public Law 109-246, dated July 27, 2006, may be cited as the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006." Among other changes it amended Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and replaced the references to the 1982 amendments in Section 4(a).

    Related: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law · Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Jun 28, 2006 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides LULAC v. Perry

    On June 28, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court decided challenges to Texas's 2003 congressional redistricting. The Court's syllabus says "Texas' redrawing of District 23's lines amounts to vote dilution violative of § 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2002

  1. Oct 29, 2002 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Help America Vote Act of 2002 becomes law

    Public Law 107-252, dated October 29, 2002, is titled, in part, "To establish a program to provide funds to States to replace punch card voting systems, to establish the Election Assistance Commission" to assist in the administration of federal elections, and "to establish minimum election administration standards for States and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2000

  1. Dec 12, 2000 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Bush v. Gore

    On December 12, 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a per curiam opinion, reversed the Florida Supreme Court's order for manual recounts. The Court's syllabus says "any recount seeking to meet 3 U.S.C. § 5's December 12 'safe-harbor' date would be unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

1993

  1. Jun 28, 1993 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Shaw v. Reno

    On June 28, 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court held that voters stated a claim under the Equal Protection Clause by alleging that a reapportionment plan was "so irrational on its face that it can be understood only as an effort to segregate voters into separate districts on the basis of race," without sufficient justification.

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. May 20, 1993 National Laws and rules Enacted

    National Voter Registration Act of 1993 becomes law

    Public Law 103-31, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, is dated May 20, 1993. The law states its purpose as "to establish procedures that will increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote in elections for Federal office."

    Related: Supreme Court decides Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona · Supreme Court decides Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1986

  1. Aug 28, 1986 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act becomes law

    Public Law 99-410, dated August 28, 1986, may be cited as the "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act." Its subject is voting in federal elections by members of the uniformed services and by citizens living overseas.

    Related: Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act becomes law

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Jun 30, 1986 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Thornburg v. Gingles

    On June 30, 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court decided its first case under the 1982 version of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The syllabus says minority voters who contend that a multimember form of districting violates Section 2 "must prove that the use of a multimember electoral structure operates to minimize or cancel out their ability to elect their preferred candidates."

    Related: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

1984

  1. Sep 28, 1984 National Polling places and drop boxes Enacted

    Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act becomes law

    Public Law 98-435, dated September 28, 1984, is titled "To improve access for handicapped and elderly individuals to registration facilities and polling places for Federal elections."

    Source last checked Oct 22, 2026

1982

  1. Jun 29, 1982 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law

    Public Law 97-205, dated June 29, 1982, rewrote Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to bar any practice "imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision in a manner which results in a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color." It also provided that a section 4 provision expires "at the end of the twenty-five-year period following the effective date" of the 1982 amendments.

    Related: Voting Rights Act reauthorized and amended in 2006 · Supreme Court decides Thornburg v. Gingles · Supreme Court decides City of Mobile v. Bolden · Supreme Court decides Louisiana v. Callais

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1980

  1. Apr 22, 1980 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides City of Mobile v. Bolden

    On April 22, 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a lower-court ruling against Mobile, Alabama's at-large election system. Four Justices concluded that "Racially discriminatory motivation is a necessary ingredient of a Fifteenth Amendment violation." Congress amended Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in 1982.

    Related: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

1975

  1. Aug 6, 1975 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Voting Rights Act extended in 1975, with language-minority protections

    Public Law 94-73, dated August 6, 1975, is titled "To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to extend certain provisions for an additional seven years, to make permanent the ban against certain prerequisites to voting, and for other purposes." It also provides that no voting qualification may be imposed "to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote because he is a member of a language minority group."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1971

  1. Jul 1, 1971 National Laws and rules Enacted

    26th Amendment ratified: voting age of 18

    The National Archives lists the 26th Amendment as passed by Congress on March 23, 1971, and ratified on July 1, 1971. It reads: "The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age."

    Related: Supreme Court decides Oregon v. Mitchell

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1970

  1. Dec 21, 1970 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Oregon v. Mitchell

    On December 21, 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the 1970 Voting Rights Act Amendments. The Court's syllabus says the 18-year-old minimum-age requirement is valid for national elections but not valid for state and local elections, and that the literacy test provision is valid.

    Related: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970 become law · 26th Amendment ratified: voting age of 18

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. Jun 22, 1970 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970 become law

    Public Law 91-285, dated June 22, 1970, is titled "To extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with respect to the discriminatory use of tests, and for other purposes." It may be cited as the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970.

    Related: Supreme Court decides Oregon v. Mitchell · Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1969

  1. Mar 3, 1969 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Allen v. State Board of Elections

    On March 3, 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "Private litigants may invoke the jurisdiction of the district courts to obtain relief under § 5" of the Voting Rights Act, according to the Court's syllabus.

    Related: Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

1967

  1. Dec 14, 1967 National Maps and lines Enacted

    Congress requires single-member congressional districts (Public Law 90-196)

    Public Law 90-196, approved December 14, 1967, provides that in each state entitled to more than one Representative "there shall be established by law a number of districts equal to the number of Representatives to which such State is so entitled," with "no district to elect more than one Representative."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

1966

  1. Mar 24, 1966 National Courts and officials Struck down

    Supreme Court decides Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections

    On March 24, 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "a State's conditioning of the right to vote on the payment of a fee or tax violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment." The case concerned Virginia's poll tax.

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. Mar 7, 1966 National Courts and officials Upheld

    Supreme Court decides South Carolina v. Katzenbach

    On March 7, 1966, the U.S. Supreme Court decided South Carolina's challenge to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Court held that "the sections of the Act properly before this Court are a valid effectuation of the Fifteenth Amendment."

    Related: Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law · Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

1965

  1. Aug 6, 1965 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Voting Rights Act of 1965 signed into law

    President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6, 1965. The National Archives says the act outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War.

    Related: Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder · Supreme Court decides Allen v. Milligan

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

How this timeline is built

Every entry rests on at least one source that was opened and read, and that source states the date and the fact. Courts, legislatures, election offices, the Justice Department, the Census Bureau, the Federal Register and Congress.gov come first. A news report is used only when no official page states the fact, and it is labeled with the outlet's name. Encyclopedias are not used as sources. History starts in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act. County names come from the Census Bureau's 2024 Gazetteer. Congressional district numbers are those in use for the 2026 election; an event is tagged to a district only when its source names that congressional district.

When a later event changes an earlier one, such as a law later struck down, both entries are listed and point to each other. This page does not predict outcomes or say which party a change helps. U.S. House maps for 2026 · Back to the 2026 voting center.