On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case of Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, which challenged Arizona voting restrictions. The 6-3 decision, written by Justice Samuel Alito, upheld Arizona's restrictions on out-of-precinct voting and ballot collection, narrowing the scope of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Critics argue this decision weakens protections against racial discrimination in voting, while supporters say it clarifies the law.
The ruling has been interpreted by some as a political move by conservative justices to dismantle the Voting Rights Act, but the majority opinion focused on statutory interpretation, stating that the law does not prohibit all voting rules that have a disparate impact on minority voters. Justice Elena Kagan, in dissent, wrote that the decision 'undermines the Voting Rights Act in a fundamental way.'
As of May 2, 2026, no further rulings have been issued that 'finish the job' of unraveling the Voting Rights Act, as the source article claims. The Court has not addressed the preclearance formula struck down in Shelby County v. Holder (2013), which remains a key issue in voting rights debates.
