The new district maps for the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council, effective January 1, 2025, dilute Black voting strength in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (“VRA”) and the United States Constitution.

The new maps do so by “packing” large numbers of Black voters into a few majority-Black council districts. The new maps pack more than 68.5% of the Parish’s Black registered voters into 42% of the Parish’s Metro Council districts.

According to the 2020 Census data (Census Reporter), the two largest ethnic groups in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, are Black or African American with (46%) of the parish and White with (42%) of the parish.

However, East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council district maps are designed to easily elect seven (7) White council members and only five (5) Black council members. This is done by packing large numbers of Black voters into a few (5) majority-Black council districts in an effort to maintain and increase white control of the Metro Council. Blacks are the largest ethnic group in East Baton Rouge Parish, yet the Black representation on the Metro Council is in the minority.

Although white residents have been declining in numbers in Baton Rouge and are no longer the majority, the new maps would increase white control of the Metro Council by creating an additional majority-white council district.

Click here to view the current makeup of the East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council.

Click here to view the East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Census data.

Residents of Baton Rouge are raising funds to support the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the district maps for the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council, which is in violation of the Voting Rights Act. Funds raised will help cover legal fees.

The Plaintiffs in the lawsuit will include Baton Rouge Metro Council Members Cleve Dunn, Jr., Chauna Banks, Darryl Hurst, Lamont Cole, Carolyn Coleman, and others.

The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Most & Associates.