The Decisive Blow: Can Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act Survive?

Widely regarded as the most transformative piece of legislation of the Civil Rights era, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) was a comprehensive measure enacted to dismantle Jim Crow policies and eliminate discriminatory voting practices nationwide. Since its passage, however, the VRA has faced continuous turbulence. For example, the 2021 Supreme Court ruling in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee significantly curtailed the use of Section 2, the provision that allows voters to challenge laws and procedures that deny equal political opportunity to elect their candidates of choice. Election law expert, Maureen Edobor, delivers an urgent assessment of the VRA’s current state in 2025 and explains the deep implications of the pivotal Supreme Court case, Louisiana v. Callais. This case directly challenges a new congressional map designed to remedy vote dilution for Black voters, forcing the Court to confront the fundamental constitutionality of VRA Section 2. Speakers: • Maureen Edobor, a Theodore DeLaney Center Fellow focusing on Southern race relations, politics, and culture, at the Washington and Lee University School of Law • Anthony Gaughan, Associate Dean; Kern Family Chair in Law and Professor of Law at Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa; Senior Fellow, Election Law at Ohio State • Terri Enns, James W. Shocknessy Professor of Law; Senior Fellow, Election Law at Ohio State • Anne Ralph, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives; Morgan E. Shipman Professor in Law; Senior Fellow, Election Law at Ohio State If you enjoy this episode, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. Watch our show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OhioStateLaw Recorded on November 11, 2025.