Voting Rights Groups Sue to Stop Louisiana Election Freeze After Landry Order

BATON ROUGE — A growing legal battle is unfolding in Louisiana after two lawsuits were filed in Baton Rouge seeking to block Gov. Jeff Landry from suspending the May 16 congressional primary elections, a move critics say threatens voter access and undermines confidence in the democratic process.

A coalition of civil rights organizations filed the lawsuits, voting advocacy groups, and Louisiana voters, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the League of Women Voters, and the National Council of Jewish Women. Defendants named in the cases include Gov. Landry and Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry.

At the center of the legal fight is an executive order issued after a court ruling declared Louisiana’s congressional map an unconstitutional gerrymander. The order halted the scheduled U.S. House primary elections, triggering immediate backlash from voting rights advocates and community leaders who argue the governor exceeded his constitutional authority.

The lawsuits contend that only the Louisiana Legislature has the legal power to establish or change election dates, not the governor acting alone through executive authority. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs also argue that Louisiana’s emergency powers laws were designed for disasters such as hurricanes and public emergencies — not judicial rulings tied to redistricting disputes.

Voting rights advocates warn the suspension could create widespread confusion among voters, particularly in Black communities that have historically faced barriers to ballot access and representation. Court filings argue that the order risks invalidating ballots already cast, forcing residents to vote again and disrupting the integrity of the election calendar.

The lawsuits further claim the governor’s action could cause what attorneys described as “irreparable harm” to voters by creating uncertainty around election procedures and weakening public trust in the electoral system.

The legal challenge comes as Louisiana remains under national scrutiny over congressional redistricting and Black political representation. The state has faced years of litigation surrounding voting maps and whether African American voters have been fairly represented in congressional districts despite Louisiana’s large Black population.

Plaintiffs are now asking the court to issue an emergency temporary restraining order that would immediately block the suspension and allow the May 16 election schedule to move forward as planned.

The court is expected to face intense pressure to act quickly as election deadlines approach and uncertainty continues to grow across the state.