Special Elections Ordered for Mississippi Supreme Court
In a significant development, a federal judge has mandated special elections for the Mississippi Supreme Court following a ruling that the state’s electoral map contravenes the Voting Rights Act. The map, established in 1987, was deemed by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to dilute the influence of Black voters, necessitating a redrawing by the Mississippi Legislature by the conclusion of its 2026 session.
The decision arrives amidst ongoing challenges to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act at the U.S. Supreme Court, a pivotal provision for contesting racial discrimination in voting practices. Aycock’s ruling indicates that once a new map is ratified, she will expedite proceedings to facilitate the special elections scheduled for November 2026.
The ruling stems from a 2022 lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which contended that the existing map splits the historically Black Delta region, effectively weakening the Black vote in the Central District. Ari Savitzky of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project highlighted the issue, noting, “Mississippi is nearly 40% Black, but has never had more than one Black Justice on the nine-member Court.”
Historically, only four Black individuals have served on the Mississippi Supreme Court, all occupying the same Central District seat and initially appointed by governors. The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office is appealing Judge Aycock’s ruling, with the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pausing its proceedings pending further developments in related Supreme Court cases.
While the state’s Secretary of State and Attorney General have yet to comment, Governor Tate Reeves will appoint interim justices following the recent appointment of two state Supreme Court justices to federal positions. These interim justices will serve until the special elections are held, reflecting Mississippi’s nonpartisan approach to Supreme Court elections.
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