Louisiana

Congressional and Legislative

Congressional and legislative maps are enacted by the State Legislature. The Governor can veto the plans.

The Legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote. Republicans currently have a veto-proof majority in the upper chamber. No party currently has a veto-proof majority in the lower chamber.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana inherits responsibility to draw legislative lines should the Legislature fail to enact them.

Source: La. Const. art. III, § 6.

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

Ballot Measure Process

Kinds of Ballot Measures
Only the Louisiana Legislature may refer amendments to the ballot. There is no initiative or referendum process.

Source: La. Const. art. XIII.

In The News

• 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)