WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court issued a ruling in a Louisiana case that weakened the Voting Rights Act less than three weeks before the state's congressional primary scheduled for May 16. The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, had delayed action on the case for more than a year before releasing the decision.

The court granted special requests filed by Louisiana and Alabama to allow new congressional maps that will eliminate majority-Black districts held by Democrats. The ruling prompted some Republican-led states to draw new congressional maps that favor Republicans, following recent decisions in redistricting cases that have favored Republicans.

Louisiana moved back its congressional primary to reset its district, and Alabama moved back its congressional primary to August for the affected districts. Some ballots had already been returned in Louisiana when Governor Jeff Landry announced that the House elections originally scheduled for May 16 would be suspended.

"I don't think you can see this as anything other than a raw exercise of power. The court is effectively, whether they are trying to or not, playing an outsized role in this midterm election. It's quite unfortunate they have chosen this path," said Kareem Crayton, a lawyer at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.

The Supreme Court has frequently admonished judges not to interfere in election cases when the process is already underway. It often relies on a 2006 ruling called Purcell v. Gonzalez, which gave rise to the Purcell principle that urges judges to show restraint ahead of an election. In that case, the court blocked a ruling that had prevented Arizona from implementing a photo ID requirement for voter registration.

In an unsigned opinion, the court wrote: "Court orders affecting elections, especially conflicting orders, can themselves result in voter confusion and consequent incentive to remain away from the polls. As an election draws closer, that risk will increase."

"Americans view the justices as political actors," Chief Justice John Roberts said. A recent poll showed that public confidence in the Supreme Court is at an all-time low.