Mississippi Governor Calls Special Session on Redistricting Maps
Tate Reeves orders lawmakers back to Jackson after Supreme Court ruling on landmark voting-rights case.
JACKSON —
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced Friday that he will convene a special legislative session to redraw the state's electoral maps following an anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a landmark voting-rights case. The Republican governor said state lawmakers will return to the capital 21 days after the high court issues its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, a redistricting dispute that could reshape how states draw electoral boundaries under the Voting Rights Act.
The move positions Mississippi to respond quickly to potential changes in federal voting-rights law. Reeves did not specify which maps would be redrawn or what changes might be required, but the timing suggests state officials expect the Supreme Court's ruling to affect how Mississippi complies with the Voting Rights Act's protections for minority voters.
Supreme Court Case at Center of Decision
The Louisiana v. Callais case centers on whether states must create additional majority-minority districts when drawing electoral maps. The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case earlier this term, and legal observers expect a decision by late June. A ruling that narrows the scope of the Voting Rights Act could give states more latitude in how they draw district lines, potentially reducing the number of districts where Black and Hispanic voters form a majority.
Mississippi's population is approximately 38 percent Black, one of the highest percentages in the nation. Current state legislative and congressional maps include several majority-minority districts designed to ensure Black voters can elect candidates of their choice, a core protection under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Political and Legal Context
The announcement comes as voting-rights advocates and Republican-led state governments clash over redistricting nationwide. Conservative legal groups have argued that race-conscious redistricting violates the Constitution's equal-protection guarantees, while civil-rights organizations contend that such maps are necessary to prevent dilution of minority voting power.
Mississippi has faced repeated legal challenges over its electoral maps in recent decades. Federal courts have struck down or required modifications to state legislative and congressional districts multiple times since the 1960s, citing violations of the Voting Rights Act. The state was among those required to obtain federal preclearance for voting changes until the Supreme Court invalidated that requirement in its 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision.
Timeline and Next Steps
Reeves did not announce a specific date for the special session, saying only that it will begin three weeks after the Supreme Court releases its opinion. Special sessions in Mississippi require the governor's call and typically focus on a narrow set of issues. Lawmakers will likely face pressure from both voting-rights groups seeking to preserve minority representation and conservative activists pushing for what they describe as race-neutral redistricting.
The governor's office has not released draft maps or indicated which districts might be affected. State legislative leaders have not yet commented publicly on the planned session.
What we know: Governor Reeves will call Mississippi lawmakers back to Jackson 21 days after the Supreme Court rules in Louisiana v. Callais, a case that could change how states draw electoral maps under the Voting Rights Act. What's unclear: Which specific maps will be redrawn, what changes the governor expects to make, and how the Supreme Court's ruling will affect Mississippi's current majority-minority districts.
Frequently asked
Why is Mississippi calling a special session on redistricting?
Governor Tate Reeves expects the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in <em>Louisiana v. Callais</em> to require changes to how Mississippi draws electoral maps under the Voting Rights Act. The special session will allow lawmakers to redraw districts in response to the court's decision.
What is the Louisiana v. Callais case about?
The case asks whether states must create additional majority-minority districts when drawing electoral maps. A ruling that narrows the Voting Rights Act could give states more freedom in redistricting and potentially reduce districts where minority voters form a majority.
When will the special session begin?
The session will start 21 days after the Supreme Court issues its ruling in the Louisiana case, expected by late June. Governor Reeves has not set a specific date.
How many majority-minority districts does Mississippi currently have?
Mississippi's current legislative and congressional maps include several majority-minority districts, designed to ensure Black voters—who make up about 38 percent of the state's population—can elect candidates of their choice. The exact number was not specified in available sources.
Has Mississippi faced redistricting challenges before?
Yes. Federal courts have struck down or required modifications to Mississippi's electoral maps multiple times since the 1960s for violating the Voting Rights Act. The state was previously required to obtain federal preclearance for voting changes until the Supreme Court ended that requirement in 2013.