The supreme court's voting rights decision is a death knell for American democracy | Moira Donegan

"America has only rarely been a true democracy, where all citizens have the full right to vote and to have that vote counted. Political scientists argue that America wasn't really a democracy until the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965."

"The Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v Callais completes an effort that began in 2013's Shelby County v Holder, which struck down the Voting Rights Act's section 5, leading to greater difficulties for minority voters."

"The court has drawn new standards for plaintiffs to establish claims of illegal racial discrimination in voting that virtually no case will be able to meet, further weakening the Voting Rights Act."

America has historically struggled with true democracy, characterized by equal voting rights for all citizens. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 marked a significant achievement in civil rights, aiming to eliminate racial voting barriers. However, recent Supreme Court decisions, particularly in Louisiana v Callais, have dismantled key protections of the Voting Rights Act, raising concerns about the current state of democracy in America. The court's rulings have made it increasingly difficult for minority voters to participate fully in the electoral process, undermining the democratic principles of equal representation.

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