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April 29, 2026
Fellow Coloradans --
Today's Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais eviscerated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — a critical and sacred civil rights protection that has long served as a cornerstone of fair representation in American democracy. We are deeply alarmed by its consequences, not only for Louisiana and the South, but for communities of color across our nation.
This decision is a devastating blow to civil rights protections. By permitting states to use partisan gerrymandering as a wholesale excuse to deny Black voters a voice in their government, the Court threatens to further divide our nation and entrench power in the hands of the few.
As Justice Kagan wrote in dissent, this ruling will "effectively insulate any practice, including any districting scheme, said by a State to have any race-neutral justification" — meaning a state need do nothing more than announce a partisan gerrymander to evade accountability. That is not democracy. That is the silencing of voters.
This ruling underscores why the League of Women Voters of Colorado fought in coalition for passage of the Colorado Voting Rights Act (SB25-001), signed into law in 2025. As federal protections have eroded, Colorado acted to strengthen voting rights at the state level by expanding access, increasing protections for historically excluded communities, and prohibiting discriminatory election practices. Today’s decision makes those protections even more important.
In Colorado, we know that the fight for fair representation is not abstract — it is personal. Coloradans have worked hard to build independent redistricting commissions and protect the integrity of our elections. We remain committed to defending those gains and standing with all voters whose voices this ruling threatens to diminish.
We call on Congress to act immediately to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act through legislation. The right to vote — and to have that vote count equally — must not be surrendered to the Court's political majority.
Irene R. Tynes Beth Hendrix
President Executive Director
League of Women Voters of Colorado League of Women Voters of Colorado
The League of Women Voters of Colorado is a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. We never support or oppose candidates or political parties.
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