Why It Matters
Louisiana officials collected more than 42,000 absentee ballots for congressional races that were abruptly suspended following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the state’s current congressional map. The suspension has triggered multiple legal challenges and left thousands of early votes in limbo as state lawmakers prepare to redraw district boundaries.
The situation affects six U.S. House races in Louisiana, with voters and candidates uncertain whether ballots already cast will ultimately count toward the rescheduled primary.
What Happened
Gov. Jeff Landry suspended Louisiana’s party primary elections for U.S. House seats one day after the Supreme Court struck down the state’s congressional map on Wednesday. The 6-3 decision found that lawmakers improperly relied on race when drawing district lines in 2024.
The court specifically ruled that a majority-Black congressional district stretching from Baton Rouge to Shreveport constituted an illegal gerrymander. Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the opinion that allowing race to influence government decision-making departs from constitutional principles applicable in most other contexts.
Secretary of State Nancy Landry confirmed Monday that her office had received the absentee ballots by the time of the governor’s suspension order. Absentee voting was already underway when the suspension took effect, and early voting had begun two days prior.
By the Numbers
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s office collected more than 42,000 absentee ballots before the suspension took effect. The governor’s order moved the U.S. House primary from May 16 to July 15, though the legislature may select a different date. At least four separate legal challenges to the suspension had been filed as of Monday. Six U.S. House races are affected by the suspension, while other contests including the U.S. Senate race remain on the May 16 ballot as scheduled.
Current Status
Secretary of State Nancy Landry, who is not related to the governor, said U.S. House races will remain on ballots but votes cast for those candidates will not be counted. Democratic candidates and civil rights advocates have urged voters to continue casting ballots in the suspended races.
U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, a Baton Rouge Democrat who currently represents the 6th Congressional District invalidated by the Supreme Court, told the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday that the suspension applies only to the present moment and could change.
What’s Next
State lawmakers are expected to begin a new congressional redistricting process later this week. The Supreme Court ruling examined Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting procedures that discriminate based on race, color, or language minority status.
The outcome of pending legal challenges may determine whether votes already cast will be counted and whether the July 15 primary date will stand. The legislature could also select an alternative election date during the redistricting session.