Section 2 Case Could Reshape House Maps by 2028

As the Voting Rights Act marks its 60th anniversary, the Supreme Court is weighing challenges to Section 2 that could curb protections for race‑conscious congressional districting. Conservative state leaders across the South are preparing to redraw maps if Section 2 is curtailed, and analysts say an extreme scenario could cost Democrats as many as 19 seats. Republicans contend majority‑minority districts are race‑based and have insulated Democratic power, while Democrats warn a rollback would enable racial gerrymandering and disenfranchise voters of color. Experts caution the timing of the court’s decision could mean changes arrive too late to alter 2026 maps but could reshape congressional boundaries for 2028 and beyond. In response to national uncertainty, Colorado has moved to enshrine voting access in state law and now requires county jails to offer in‑person voting to eligible detainees, with Jefferson County’s process under review. The coming Supreme Court ruling, together with state‑level responses, could substantially reshape representation and voting access nationwide.