Protect Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and Mail-In Ballot Access

I am writing to urge the Supreme Court to uphold Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais and protect mail-in ballot access in Watson v. RNC. These cases will determine whether millions of Americans can exercise their fundamental right to vote, and decisions are expected by June. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 remains the last real brake on unbridled gerrymandering, as George Washington University law professor Spencer Overton has noted. If the Court curtails Section 2, Republican states in the South could have virtual free rein to redraw congressional and legislative lines in ways that discriminate against minority voters. The ACLU and voting rights activists warn this could open floodgates for discriminatory maps. Harvard Law School professor Nicholas Stephanopoulos expects Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Mississippi would all redistrict after a Callais decision if possible for 2026. The case has already triggered a national redistricting scramble, with Texas Republicans redrawing maps and Florida announcing intentions to follow suit. The Court came close to gutting Section 2 in 2023 but decided 5-4 to keep it in place, recognizing its essential role in preventing racial discrimination in voting procedures. In Watson v. RNC, the question is whether states can count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day if postmarked by that date. More than a dozen states and territories have grace periods like Mississippi's five-day window. The DNC correctly argues that ruling for the RNC would disenfranchise voters across the country due to mail delays beyond their control. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine already eliminated his state's grace period last month, citing concerns about this pending case. I urge the Court to protect voting rights by upholding Section 2 and allowing states to count legitimately cast ballots that arrive shortly after Election Day. These protections ensure every eligible American can participate in our democracy.