Louisiana

Congressional & Legislative

Primary Authority: The Louisiana State Legislature draws and enacts congressional and legislative plans, subject to the Governor’s veto. The Legislature can override a veto with a 2/3 vote in each chamber. Republicans currently have a veto-proof majority in the Senate. No party currently has a veto-proof majority in the House. [La. Const. art. III, § 6]

If a bill is presented to the Governor during session, the Governor has 10 days to sign or veto it; otherwise, it becomes law without signature. If the bill is delivered during the last 10 days of session, the Governor must sign or veto it within 20 days of transmittal; otherwise, it becomes law without signature.

Mapping Timeline: There is no deadline specified for congressional plans. The Legislature must enact legislative plans by the end of the year after the decennial census results are reported to the President. If they fail to meet this deadline, any voter can petition the Louisiana Supreme Court to draw and adopt legislative plans. [La. Const. art. III, § 6]

Redistricting Criteria: None. [But the Legislature adopted criteria via Joint Rule No. 21 for the 2020 cycle]

Map Challenges: Not specified.

Ballot Measure & Referendum Processes

Types of Measures: Only the Louisiana State Legislature can refer amendments to the ballot. There is no initiative or referendum process. [La. Const. art. XIII]

Previous Redistricting Cycles

2010

• Congressional
  • Original Plan – HB 6
    • Passed = April 13, 2011 (R-controlled)
    • Signed = April 14, 2011
    • Preclearance = Granted on August 1, 2011
  • Litigation History
    • Johnson v. Ardoin, No. 3:18-cv-625 (M.D. La. Oct. 13, 2020): A group of African-American Louisiana voters challenged the Legislature’s enacted congressional plan alleging vote dilution in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The case was dismissed by joint stipulation of all parties on October 13, 2020.
• Legislative
  • Original Plans – HB 1 (House); SB 1 (Senate)
    • Passed = April 11, 2011 (House); April 12, 2011 (Senate) (R-controlled)
    • Signed = April 14, 2011
    • Preclearance = Granted as to House plan on June 20, 2011 and as to Senate plan on June 28, 2011
  • Litigation History
    • None

2000

• Congressional
  • Original Plan – HB 2
    • Passed = October 15, 2001 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = October 19, 2001
    • Preclearance = Granted on April 1, 2002
  • Litigation History
    • None
• Legislative
  • Original Plans – HB 1 (House); SB 1 (Senate)
    • Passed = October 12, 2001 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = October 16, 2001
    • Preclearance = Granted as to Senate plan on July 2, 2002; Denied as to House plan.
  • Revised House Plan – HB 779
    • Passed = May 7, 2003 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = May 7, 2003
    • Preclearance = Granted on May 20, 2003
  • Revised Senate Plan – SB 927
    • Passed = May 12, 2003 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = May 13, 2003
  • 2nd Revised House Plan – HB 2011
    • Passed = June 3, 2003 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = June 3, 2003
  • 3rd Revised House Plan – HB 910
    • Passed = June 15, 2004 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = June 25, 2004
  • Litigation History
    • None

In The News

• Federal court to decide if Louisiana's new congressional map with second Black district is legal, nola.com (3/15/24)
• Voters sue over creation of Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district, Louisiana Illuminator (2/1/24)
• Proposed Louisiana congressional map advances to the House with a second majority-Black district, AP (1/17/24)
• Newly sworn in, Louisiana’s Gov. Jeff Landry calls for special session to draw new congressional map, PBS (1/8/24)
• Federal appeals court refuses to reconsider ruling on Louisiana’s congressional map, AP (12/15/23)
• Louisiana granted extra time to draw new congressional map, ABC News (12/3/23)
• Louisiana Congressional Map's Redrawing is due in January, NPR (11/10/23)
• Supreme Court unfreezes Louisiana redistricting case that could boost Black voting power before 2024, AP (6/26/23)
• La. GOP lawmakers still hope to win gerrymandering appeal despite SCOTUS ruling, The Louisiana Weekly (6/20/23)
• DeSoto Policy Jury Rescinds Redistricting Plan Amid Lawsuit Threat, KTBS (12/5/22)
• DeSoto Police Jury to Consider Rescinding Reapportionment Plan, KTBS (11/30/22)
• Justices Nix 2nd Mostly Black District in Louisiana for 2022, AP (6/28/22)
• Louisiana Asks Supreme Court to Delay Mostly Black District, AP (6/17/22)
• Louisiana Legislature Adjourns Without Approving New Congressional Map, Louisiana Illuminator (6/18/22)
• Judge Denies Extension for Louisiana Redistricting Deadline, AP (6/16/22)
• Legislators Ask More Time to Comply with Redistricting Order, AP (6/14/22)
• U.S. Fifth Circuit Rules that Special Redistricting Session Will Move Forward, BRPROUD (6/12/22)
• Gov. Edwards Calls Lawmakers into Special Session After Court Rejects Redistricting Map, Louisiana Illuminator (6/7/22)
• Federal Court Blocks Louisiana's Congressional Map, CNN (6/6/22)
• 'These Maps are the Best Maps': Louisiana Legislature Overrides Edwards' Veto of Congressional Map, Shreveport Times (3/30/22)
• Override Veto Session on Redistricting Maps Set for Wednesday, WAFB (3/28/22)
• Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Louisiana's Senate, House Redistricting Maps, The Center Square (3/16/22)
• Lawsuit Seeks to Have Court Draw Louisiana Congressional Map, The Center Square (3/14/22)
• Civil Rights Groups Sue Louisiana Over State Legislative District Maps, WWNO (3/14/22)
• Louisiana Voters File Impasse Redistricting Lawsuit to Ask the Court to Create New Maps, The Advocate (3/12/22)
• Louisiana Governor Vetoes Congressional Maps, The Hill (3/10/22)
• Will Gov. Edwards Veto GOP Redistricting Proposals? WRKF (2/22/22)
• Bills Creating New Minority Congress District Rejected, AP (2/11/22)
• Louisiana Senate Committee Passes Senate, Congressional Redistricting Maps, The Center Square (2/4/22)
• On the Eve of Louisiana's Redistricting Session, Public Gets First Look at Proposed Maps, The Advocate (1/31/22)
• Louisiana Legislature Schedules Special Session on Political Redistricting, Louisiana Illuminator (1/11/22)
• State Senator: Census Delay won't Push Redistricting Back to Next Year, KTBS (1/5/21)
• Louisiana Speaker Taps Rep. John Stefanski as New Head of Influential Redistricting Committee, The Advocate (12/23/20)
• Louisiana Could Lose Federal Money if People don't Fill Out their Census, KADN (8/20/20)
• Census 2020: As Deadline Approaches, Most of Louisiana Still Lagging Behind, Lafayette Daily Advertiser (8/14/20)
• Proposed Louisiana legislation addresses redistricting, voting by mail and purging inactive voters, The Center Square (3/10/20)