Advocates of democracy were relieved when the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled definitively against the Independent State Legislative Theory. SCOTUS validated the authority state constitutions and courts have over redistricting.

The Connecticut General Assembly passed An Act Concerning State Voting Rights in Recognition of John R. Lewis (“CTVRA”) as part of the state budget. The CTVRA is a state-level Voting Rights Act that seeks to expand access to the freedom to vote and strengthen protections against voting discrimination for communities of color throughout the state. Once signed into law, the CTVRA will become the most comprehensive state-level voting rights act, setting a new standard for states across the country.