Judge rules Texas voting map discriminates against Black and Latino residents

A federal judge has ruled that a new electoral map in Galveston county, Texas, discriminates against Black and Latino residents, violating the Voting Rights Act. The judge found that the redistricting map adopted by Republican commissioners diluted minority votes and erased the only majority-minority district. This case is the first trial under section 2 of the Voting Rights Act since the US Supreme Court affirmed the provision in June. The ruling orders the county to redraw its map by October 20th, ensuring at least one majority-minority district out of the four. The decision is seen as a victory against racial gerrymandering and has national implications.