Louisiana v. Callais · ¶60

In this complicated verbal formulation, the key concept for present purposes is “less opportunity than other members of the electorate to . . . elect representatives of their choice.” Ibid. This language sets a baseline against which to assess the opportunity of minority voters: the “opportunity” that “other members of the electorate” have “to elect” their preferred candidates. To understand this baseline, we must nail down the meaning of three terms: “less opportunity,” “other members of the electorate,” and “elect.”

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