Supreme Court faces new criticism for changing redistricting law close to 2026 elections

The Supreme Court has admonished judges not to interfere in election cases when the process is underway, but it is being accused of doing that in redistricting decisions.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has frequently admonished judges not to interfere in election cases when the process is already underway, but it is now being accused of doing exactly that in recent decisions favoring Republicans in redistricting fights.

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The court’s ruling in a case from Louisiana that weakened the Voting Rights Act has set off a frenzy in some Republican-led states to draw new congressional maps that favor their party. The stakes are high ahead of this year’s midterm elections that will determine which party controls the House.

The court released its ruling, centered on Louisiana’s map but with national implications, less than three weeks before that state’s congressional primary and after delaying action on the case for more than a year. Now, Louisiana and Alabama are moving back their primaries to reset their districts, and other states could follow.