Duke University Team Dabbles with Its Own Algorithm for Measuring Partisan Gerrymandering

By EditorDec 06, 2016

North Carolina - It isn't Efficiency Gap Analysis, but a team of mathematicians at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy have applied its own model (Markov Chain Monte Carlo method) to measuring the extent of partisan gerrymanders. The algorithm produces maps with districts that have proven to be comparably more competitive than the actual districts established by states. This does not appear to be anything new however, since computer modeled redistricting has been around for quite sometime. The groups methodology explanation does not indicate how its model is superior to other algorithms. Read the article in GovTech.com. The group…

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymandersfeatured, North Carolina, partisan gerrymandering, redistricting, research

NPR Talks with Law Profs About Racial Gerrymandering in the Supreme Court

By EditorDec 06, 2016

Wash. DC - NPR's Nina Totenberg discusses the North Carolina racial gerrymandering claim to be heard today before the U.S. Supreme Court. Totenberg chats with Stanford law professor Nathaniel Persily and Richard Hasen of University of California Irvine about the two congressional districts in dispute and how the court has dealt with similar claims in the past. Click below.

Racial Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymandersfeatured, gerrymandering, lawindepth, North Carolina, Persily, racial gerrymandering, Supreme Court, washington dc

Packing Minorities Into Districts. When Is That Ever Okay?

By EditorDec 05, 2016

Washington DC - The Supreme Court will tackle that question today as it hears oral arguments in two redistricting cases. Both cases are alleged racial gerrymander claims; one orginating from Virginia's state legislative map and the other from North Carolina's congressional district map. (more…)

Race in Redistricting, Racial Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race Rules, Voting Rights Actgerrymandering, lawindepth, legal, lpvra, North Carolina, racial gerrymandering, scotus, Supreme Court, Virginia, Voting Rights Act, washington dc

Discussion on Wisconsin Partisan Gerrymandering Decision on Bloomberg

By EditorNov 29, 2016

Listen to Stanford Law Professor Nathan Persily and Ruth Greenwood, deputy director of Redistricting at the Campaign Legal Center, discuss a Wisconsin federal panel's approval of a long-sought after measure for partisan gerrymandering. Press to Listen

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymandersefficiency gap, partisan gerrymandering, Persily, Wisconsin

Efficiency Gap Analysis Gets This Early Critique from Princeton Professor

By EditorNov 28, 2016

Princeton biophysics professor San Wang has an early critique of Efficiency Gap analysis (EG) - a method for measuring partisan gerrymandering that received unexpected support from a federal district court panel in Western Wisconsin this past week. (more…)

Equal Protection, Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymandersefficiency gap, legal, partisan gerrymandering, Wisconsin

Federal District Court Finds Partisan Gerrymander in Wisconsin Assembly Map

By EditorNov 21, 2016

Wisconsin - A three-judge federal district court in Wisconsin has invalidated the Republican-drawn state assembly district map enacted in August 2011 as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. If the ruling stands - and that's a very big "IF," this case will be the first successful approach to creating a workable standard for courts to use in determining whether a partisan gerrymander rises to the level of impermissible gerrymandering under the first amendment and equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Read more in the New York Times , Salon.com, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and Rick Hasen's Electionlawblog. Read the District Court…

First Amendment, Partisan Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanderslpequalpro, national, partisan gerrymandering, Wisconsin

Court Rules 28 of 170 N.C. Legislative Districts are Racial Gerrymanders

By EditorAug 16, 2016

North Carolina - Last Thursday, a three-judge U.S. District Court panel ruled that 28 of the Republican-drawn districts for the N.C. legislature were indeed unconstitutional racial gerrymanders. The Republican practice of making "safe" minority districts even "safer" to comply with the Voting Rights Act was completely disavowed by the court. In short, the Voting Rights Act does not mandate districts in which minorities are already successful at electing their preferred candidates, to be packed with even more minority voters - something that North Carolina insisted was the case. The districts will stand for the 2016 election however. The court has ordered a…

Race in Redistricting, Racial Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race Rulescou, gerrymandering, lawindepth, North Carolina, state legislature

Sacramento Ponders Independent Redistricting Commission after 2011 Drama

By EditorAug 05, 2016

Sacramento, CA - The Sacramento City Council does not want a repeat of the tumultuous 2011 redistricting process. Last week, the council passed a local law that if approved by residents, would establish the Independent Redistricting Act. Read more in the Sacramento News and Review.

Redistricting Commissions, REFORMCalifornia, Independent Redistricting Commission, local, sacramento

Fourth Circuit: N.C. Voter ID Law Targets Blacks with “Surgical Precision”

By EditorAug 01, 2016

North Carolina - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has overturned the lower court ruling that had upheld North Carolina's comprehensive voter identification requirements. The panel commented that this law targeted African-American voters with "surgical precision." http://www.nbcnews.com/widget/video-embed/735007299516 Read the court opinion here. Read more in the Washington Post. Read more in the New York Times.

Race in Redistricting, Redistricting, Redistricting Race Ruleslawindepth, North Carolina, voter ID

Unpacking the Texas Voter ID Decision

By EditorJul 27, 2016

Philadelphia, Pa. - Lyle Denniston of The Nation Constitution Center in Philadelphia writes this thorough review of the Circuit Court's decision in Veasey et al. v. Abbott, which significantly modifies implementation of Texas' voter ID law. It was a 203 page opinion, Denniston details the reasoning of the plurality, concurrences and the dissent. Read more here.

Redistricting, Redistricting Race RulesNational Constitution Center, Texas, voter ID