Judges rules Texas county voting map unconstitutional
A Texas judge ruled a Galveston County voting map discriminates against Black and Latino residents. This forces the county to redistrict the area in such a way as to give minorities a fair voice in their local politics.
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In a major win for Black and Latino residents of Galveston County, Texas, federal judge Jeffrey Brown ruled the county's voting map unconstitutional, as it unfairly discriminated against minorities.
Put in place in 2021 by the county's Republican commissioners, the map eliminated the majority-minority Precinct 3 by splitting the precinct's diverse residents across the other majority-white districts. This effectively diluted the voice and voting powers of Black and Latino voters in the county.
By ruling this map unconstitutional, Brown forces a redistricting of the county and the re-creation of a majority-minority precinct. This map must be redrawn by October 20, 2023, meaning it will be in place before the next election.
Despite dealing with local level politics, this case was closely watched across the country. This is because it was the first case utilizing section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act alongisde the Supreme Court's related ruling in Allen v Milligan. Reactions amoing minority residents in Galveston has been overwhelmingly positive, and voting rights advocates have appluaded Judge Brown's decision as well. The case is seen by many as a blueprint that can used in future cases alledging racial gerrymandering, and it's likely that the case's impact will extend far beyond Galveston County.
