Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission Finalizes Maps

Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission Finalizes Maps

By EditorDec 24, 2021
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission adopted final congressional and state legislative maps on Dec. 22. The 5 member commission voted unanimously for the congressional district map and approved the state legislative map on a 3-2 vote. View the maps and read media coverage below. Click maps to view interactive version Arizona 2021 Congressional DistrictsArizona 2021 Legislative Districts Media coverage Redistricting in Arizona could lead to a political shakeup (12news.com) Arizona redistricting panel approves map that appears to favor Republicans (thehill.com) Fractious Final Day Ends With Acrimony And Accusations As Redistricting Commission Splits On Legislative Map (patch.com) Who won and who…
LATEST, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting Functions, , ,
Read More

GROUPS LAUNCH LEGAL CHALLENGES OVER ALABAMA RACIAL GERRYMANDERING

By EditorNov 16, 2021
A group of voters backed by several civil rights organizations have filed a pair of lawsuits against Alabama's congressional and state legislative districts enacted just 12 days ago. The first lawsuit alleges the congressional map violates section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The second suit claims both the congressional and statehouse maps are racial gerrymanders. Read the complaints here: Milligan v. Merrill (congressional) and Thomas v. Merrill (congressional and state legislative). PRESS RELEASE (Nov. 15, 2021): BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Individual voters joined with civil rights and faith groups today to file a pair of lawsuits in federal court challenging…
Casedocs, HOME, LATEST, LAW, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, , ,
Read More
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Discusses New DOJ Voting Rights Act Guidance at NCSL Summit

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Discusses New DOJ Voting Rights Act Guidance at NCSL Summit

By EditorNov 13, 2021
Last week, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke spoke at NCSL’s Summit in Tampa regarding the Department of Justice’s guidance on how the Civil Rights Division is approaching Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and their enforcement work this redistricting cycle. Section 2 prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group. The division looks at plans regardless of whether those plans were adopted by legislative bodies, redistricting commissions, state courts, or other governmental bodies. Watch below. https://www.facebook.com/NCSLorg/videos/1480510388995770/ Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke remarks at NCSL’s Legislative Summit. (Nov. 2021)
LATEST, NEWS, Redistricting, , ,
Read More
2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Releases Draft Maps Ahead of Deadline

2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Releases Draft Maps Ahead of Deadline

By EditorNov 11, 2021
Press Release, Wednesday, November 10, 2021 PRESS RELEASE 2020 California Citizens Redistricting CommissionReleases Draft Maps Ahead of Deadline SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) released draft maps for the state’s Congressional, Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts ahead of the CA Supreme Court mandated November 15, 2021 deadline. “We are finally here. We proudly present these draft maps to the people of California as a starting point for public discussion. These are not intended to be final maps and we strongly encourage Californians to continue weighing in until we get it right,” stated Commission Chair Trena…
LATEST, NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, Redistricting Commissions, , ,
Read More
VA Redistricting Commission Implodes as Three Commissioners Walk Out

VA Redistricting Commission Implodes as Three Commissioners Walk Out

By EditorOct 08, 2021
On Friday, the VA Redistricting Commission's Democratic co-chair Greta Harris, called it quits and walked out of the public meeting of the commission flanked by two more citizen commissioners. The remaining members and staff were left visibly stunned. Watch the video of Harris' resignation and the aftermath below. As of this writing, it is not clear if the Commission will have a quorum to meet on Saturday as scheduled since some members appeared to hold out hope that Harris and the others might return. In the event that they do not, the State Supreme Court would step in after a…
LATEST, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting Functions, VIDEO, , ,
Read More

Ohio Redistricting Maps Attract 3 Partisan Gerrymandering Lawsuits in 4 Days. Read Them Here.

By EditorSep 29, 2021
The recently passed Ohio State redistricting maps have so far drawn three lawsuits; each of them claiming the map is a brazen partisan gerrymander. Here is a look at all three complaints. The first lawsuit was filed by the ACLU on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Ohio and the Ohio chapter of the African American trade union group the A. Philip Randolph Institute, as well as a group of individual Ohio voters. Read the complaint here. The second lawsuit filed is backed by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's National Redistricting Action Fund, the 501(c)4 of the…
Case Updates, Casedocs, LATEST, LAW, NEWS, Redistricting Litigation, State Laws, , ,
Read More

Ohio Redistricting Commission Maps Challenged in State Supreme Court as “Brazen” Partisan Gerrymander

By EditorSep 24, 2021
On Thursday, a lawsuit was filed by the ACLU on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Ohio and the Ohio chapter of the African American trade union group the A. Philip Randolph Institute, as well as a group of individual Ohio voters, challenging the state house and senate maps adopted by the Ohio Redistricting Commission last week. The commission adopted the maps on a 5-2 party-line vote with Republican members voting in favor of the map. The lawsuit alleges the map is a clear partisan gerrymander that violates provisions of the state constitution requiring that districts not be…
Case Updates, Casedocs, LATEST, NEWS, Partisan Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting Functions, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigation, State Laws, , , , ,
Read More
Justice Department Issues Guidance on Federal Statutes Regarding Redistricting and Methods for Electing Public Officials

Justice Department Issues Guidance on Federal Statutes Regarding Redistricting and Methods for Electing Public Officials

By EditorSep 01, 2021
Press Release: Sept. 1, 2021 Today the U.S. Department of Justice announced the release of a guidance document to ensure state, county, and municipal governments comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act concerning redistricting maps and methods of electing governmental bodies following the release of the 2020 Census redistricting data. “The right to vote is the right from which all other rights ultimately flow,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Discriminatory redistricting schemes or election practices threaten that fundamental right and are illegal. The guidance issued today makes clear that jurisdictions must abide by federal laws when redrawing…
LATEST, LAW, NEWS, Race in Redistricting, Redistricting, Redistricting Functions, Redistricting Race Rules, ,
Read More
Census Bureau Announces “Early” Release Date for Easier-to-Use Formats for Redistricting Data

Census Bureau Announces “Early” Release Date for Easier-to-Use Formats for Redistricting Data

By EditorSep 01, 2021
Press Release SEPT. 1, 2021 — The U.S. Census Bureau will release easier-to-use formats of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File on September 16. Also on September 16, redistricting data will be available through the Census Bureau’s primary data dissemination tool, data.census.gov. The Census Bureau will also deliver an easy-to-use toolkit of DVDs and flash drives to state officials and public bodies responsible for their state’s legislative apportionment or districting. These data — first released August 12 — are currently available in a legacy format on the Census Bureau’s FTP site. These data are also available through various data visualizations. More information, including links to the…
Census Data and Geography, LATEST, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Functions, , , ,
Read More
Census Bureau to Release Redistricting Data on Aug. 12. Four Days Early.

Census Bureau to Release Redistricting Data on Aug. 12. Four Days Early.

By EditorAug 05, 2021
U.S. Census Bureau Press Release: August 5, 2021. The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a news conference to discuss the release of the first local level results from the 2020 Census. States use these data on race, Hispanic origin, and the voting-age population to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts. The news conference will provide initial analysis of the first local level results from the 2020 Census on population change, race, ethnicity, the age 18 and over population, and housing occupancy status. A live Q&A session with Census Bureau subject-matter experts will immediately follow the briefing…
Census Data and Geography, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, LATEST, NEWS, Redistricting Functions, , , ,
Read More