Democracy In Action

7 weeks. 5 states. What happened to voters after the Callais ruling?

Some states rushed to redraw maps. One decided not to. Read through to see the timeline, the voter impact, and the cost. Then check your registration. Be ready for November.


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Sources: SCOTUSblog, NBC News, Ballotpedia, Tennessee Lookout, Louisiana Secretary of State, 270toWin, Louisiana Illuminator, Alabama Daily News, Votebeat, Democracy Docket, WISTV, AP, Auburn University, Louisiana Legislative Fiscal Office, state election officials.

Four states held primaries yesterday. Here's what happened:

South Carolina: Lindsey Graham advances to face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November Senate general election. The Republican gubernatorial race is heading to a June 23 runoff—no candidate reached 50%. Official results: scvotes.gov

Maine: Graham Platner wins the Democratic Senate primary and will face Republican incumbent Susan Collins in November. Official results: maine.gov/sos/elections

Nevada: State Sen. Carrie Buck wins the GOP primary in the 1st District against Democrat Dina Titus. Marty O'Donnell wins the Republican primary in the 3rd District to challenge incumbent Democrat Susie Lee. Former Nevada Assemblymember Teresa Benitez-Thompson won the Democratic primary in the 2nd District. Official results: nvsos.gov

North Dakota: For the first time since 2020, Democrats and the Democratic-Nonpartisan League are fielding candidates in every statewide race, meaning all races will have competition in November. Official results: vote.nd.gov

Before you vote: Make sure your voter registration is current and research candidate platforms at ballotpedia.org.

Sources: AP Elections | NBC News | News 3 LV (KSNV) | Ballotpedia

The latest, as of June 3, 2026:

• On May 29, the Louisiana Legislature passed a new congressional map, and Gov. Jeff Landry signed it into law the same day. The new map is 5 Republican-leaning districts and 1 Democratic-leaning, eliminating one of the state's two majority-Black districts. The 2026 legislative session ended Monday at 6 p.m.

• Updated election timeline:
🗳️ U.S. House open primary: Nov. 3, 2026
🔁 General/runoff (if needed): Dec. 12, 2026
📝 Qualifying: Aug. 5–7, 2026

🔗 Most up-to-date info: Louisiana Secretary of State → sos.la.gov

• What to watch: Civil rights groups including the NAACP and Power Coalition for Equity and Justice have signaled new legal challenges. More court action expected before November.

What you can do:
✅ Check your registration → voterportal.sos.la.gov
✅ Confirm your new district once it takes effect
✅ Mark your calendar: Aug. 5 qualifying, Nov. 3 election
✅ Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

📣 Your vote still counts, maybe more than ever.

District lines may be redrawn, but elections are still decided by who shows up. Turnout is the one thing map-drawers can't fully predict. When more people vote, "safe" seats stop being safe, that's true in every direction.

So make your voice heard, Louisiana. Vote. Talk to your family. Bring a friend. Help someone get registered. The map changed, but your power didn't.

The rules are changing mid-cycle. A second look at your voter status is the best defense against confusion.

South Carolina redistricting failed to pass. On May 26, the State Senate blocked a proposed new congressional map after lawmakers flagged errors — including precincts no longer in use and noted that early voting had already begun that morning.

Current districts remain in place for the June 9 primary.

🗓️ Early voting: May 26 – June 5, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed weekends)
📮 Absentee application deadline: May 29
🗳️ Primary: June 9 🔗 scvotes.gov

Your voice counts. Make your plan to vote.

The future of our communities starts with the next generation showing up, asking questions, and getting involved. We love seeing young voices engaged in conversations about voting rights, representation, and civic participation. That’s what democracy in action looks like.

Your vote still counts.

Across the country, congressional maps are being redrawn weeks before primaries. It feels like the game is decided before ballots are even printed.

It's not.

The map isn't the whole ballot.

The state legislators who drew the map? On your ballot.
The governor who signed it? On your ballot.
The attorney general who defends it in court? On your ballot.
The state supreme court justices who rule on it? On your ballot.

Most of these races are decided by far fewer votes than people realize. State house seats by a few hundred. State supreme court seats by a few thousand. Local races by dozens.

Before your next election:
→ Look up who represents you in your state legislature and on your state's courts, not just in Congress
→ Check your voter registration
→ Confirm your polling place
→ Vote.gov is a great resource

Then show up.

Vote in your primary. Vote in your general. Vote in your local races — including the odd-year elections most people skip. Vote the whole ballot. Bring a friend. Bring your kid. Make a plan and keep it.

Democracy isn't a spectator sport. When you don't vote, someone else decides for you. Decisions get made by the people who show up.

Pay attention.

The SC House just passed a new congressional map at 1 a.m. — 74–36.

It now heads to the State Senate.

Early voting starts May 26.

That’s 6 days.

The proposal would eliminate South Carolina’s only majority-Black district. Since the Supreme Court’s Callais ruling on April 29, Florida, Tennessee, and Louisiana have already redrawn their maps. Mississippi began its special session today.

Before May 26: → Check your voter registration → Confirm your polling location → Know your district

scvotes.gov has all of it. Official source, SC State Election Commission.

Sources: AP, Ballotpedia News, SCOTUSblog, NBC News, SC Public Radio, U.S. Supreme Court (Louisiana v. Callais opinion). Voter info: scvotes.gov

Some weekends are news. Some are history. This one was both.

Saturday's marches, organized by a multiracial coalition under the banner "All Roads Lead to the South" — drew participants from Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Jackson, Memphis, Mobile, and Nashville. A Mississippi organizing call days before drew 8,000 people. Tennessee held parallel actions.

The catalyst: the U.S. Supreme Court's April 29 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which has prompted multiple Southern states to begin redrawing congressional maps in ways that affect majority-Black districts.

In a democracy, the last word is never the court's. It's the people's.

🚨 One ruling. Six states. Two weeks.

On April 29, the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais. Here's where things stand:

🔹 LOUISIANA — The May 16 primary was suspended after 42,000 voters had already cast ballots. On May 14, the state Senate passed a new map 27–10 that eliminates the majority-Black district. The House vote is next. (US News; Mississippi Today)

🔹 FLORIDA — A new congressional map was signed into law May 4. Counties are scrambling to notify voters of new district lines. (Votebeat)

🔹 TENNESSEE — A new map signed May 7 splits the state's only majority-Black district into three. A federal lawsuit has been filed challenging the map. (NPR; The Hill)

🔹 ALABAMA — On May 11, the U.S. Supreme Court greenlit Alabama's reversion to its 2023 map — eliminating one of two majority-Black districts. (Washington Post; CBS)

🔹 MISSISSIPPI — A scheduled special session was canceled, but the state has publicly vowed to redraw congressional districts targeting the state's only Black-represented seat. (Mississippi Today)

🔹 VIRGINIA — On May 8, the state Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved redistricting amendment 4–3. On May 11, an emergency appeal was filed at the U.S. Supreme Court. (Washington Post; CNN)

Same states. Different decade.

WANT TO ENGAGE? START HERE:

🗺️ Find out who drew your district
✏️ Check your voter registration
📰 Watch this story — it's not over

Breaking: South Carolina’s redistricting battle isn’t over—it’s shifting to a new arena.

On May 13, the state Senate voted 29-17 to reject extending the legislative session for redistricting. But Gov. Henry McMaster called a special session beginning today to address redistricting anyway, reversing his earlier decision not to call a special session.

Here’s why it matters: In the regular session, the proposal needed a two-thirds majority vote. In a special session, it only needs a simple majority—making passage more likely. The clock is ticking: early voting begins in two weeks, so any new map must pass by May 26.

At stake: South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District—the state’s only majority-Black district, currently represented by Congressman Jim Clyburn.

Pay attention and follow the story.