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What the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act Ruling Means for the 2026 Elections

After more than a decade of chipping away at the Voting Rights Act, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted a key provision making it harder to challenge maps that dilute the voting power of racial minorities.
The U.S. Supreme Court building on May 4, 2026 in Washington, D.C.  (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court last week dealt a major blow to the Voting Rights Act, the 1965 landmark law long celebrated as the crown jewel of the civil rights era. In a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the conservative majority dismantled the remaining protections guaranteeing the equal opportunity for fair representation. Scott and Marisa discuss what the decision means for 2026 elections and beyond with Kareem Crayton, vice president of the Washington office of the Brennan Center for Justice.

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