Voting Rights
May 20, 2026

Supreme Court sends Native voting rights case back to lower court

The justices ordered lower courts to reconsider a North Dakota voting rights case involving two Native American tribes after a recent ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act


May 20, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ordered lower courts to reconsider a North Dakota voting rights case brought by two Native American tribes after a recent high court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act, according to the Associated Press. The case centers on a decision by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said only the federal government can sue to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a provision commonly used in lawsuits brought by voters and advocacy groups.

The Associated Press reports that the Supreme Court blocked the appeals court ruling in July, allowing the tribes’ preferred voting maps to remain temporarily in place. Native American Rights Fund attorney Lenny Powell told the AP tossing out the appeals court ruling was the right call. 

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from Monday’s decision, saying she would have fully reversed the ruling in the North Dakota case.

  1. 1.Lindsay Whitehurst. Associated Press, .

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