Has the Voting Rights Act Outlived its Usefulness? In a Word, 'No'

Abstract:     
Race-conscious redistricting remains crucial to the election of an overwhelming share of African-American and Latino officials. We present descriptive evidence, easily interpretable by non-specialists, from recent elections at the state and federal levels to support our claims. The Voting Rights Act remains a valuable tool to protect the ability of minorities to elect their preferred candidates.

Keywords: Voting Rights Act, redistricting, minority representation, representation, Congress, elections, state legislatures

Working Paper Series