Gerrymandering Explained by MTV

Gerrymandering Explained by MTV

By EditorMay 12, 2016
How does MTV explain gerrymandering to its core audience? With Oreo cookies of course.  Other snacks are used to portray how students in a class my divided based on their common snack interests.  The analogy leaves out crucial one-person one-vote issues, but provides a quick visual into the electoral map-drawing process.  Despite the shaky electoral analogies, the article discusses fairness issues in map-drawing and the role of commissions and ballot initiatives. Interestingly, the article reports on an initiative in North Carolina to demonstrate "good-government" redistricting via a panel of retired judges who will redraw the states' electoral map. This mock commission is…
Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, , , ,
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Arizona County Announces Reform Commission After Primary Election Disaster

Arizona County Announces Reform Commission After Primary Election Disaster

By EditorMay 11, 2016
Arizona - After a fiasco of a primary election, Maricopa County, Arizona will establish a new election reform commission to provide "oversight" over election officials.  Maricopa's election "disaster" included long waiting lines to vote after a nearly 70% decrease in polling places, errors on the ballots, and flawed registration procedures.  The Phoenix New Times reports the county recorder and Secretary of State are resisting calls for resignation after this election administration failure. Read more.
REFORM, , , ,
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Evenwel SCOTUS Decision News and Analysis Round Up

By EditorApr 05, 2016
The first round of media, academia and policy wonks have weighed in on the somewhat surprising unanimous decision by the Supreme Court this week in the much anticipated equal population case Evenwel v. Abbott.  Here is the News Analysis Round-up:       How A Challenge to Legislative Redistricting Backfired.  The Atlantic CVAP (Citizens of Voting Age Population) Lives to Fight Another Day.  Forbes The Supreme Court upheld ‘one person, one vote.’ But don’t expect the battle over counting Americans to end.  Wash. Post Analysis: In Texas Case, Supreme Court Rules Nonvoters are People, Too. Texas Tribune District Fight May…
Redistricting, , ,
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Supreme Court Decides “Evenwel” Equal Population Case: Read the Opinion

By EditorApr 04, 2016
Wash. DC - The Supreme Court just released its opinion in Evenwel v. Abott, a challenge to redistricting based on "total population" versus eligible or registered voters.  Read the pre-decision discussion here. Redistricting expert Nathaniel Persily's brief is here.  Listen to the Supreme Court oral argument here.  The court flatly ruled against requiring redrawn districts to equalize voting eligible populations and noted the founding fathers acceptance of "total population" as an appropriate denominator.  In the words of the Court: "Settled practice confirms what constitutional history and prior decisions strongly suggest. Adopting voter-eligible apportionment asconstitutional command would upset a well-functioning approach todistricting…
Casedocs, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation,
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Legislative Privilege Slows Down Virginia State Legislative Map Lawsuit

Legislative Privilege Slows Down Virginia State Legislative Map Lawsuit

By EditorMar 28, 2016
Virginia - Reform organization OneVirginia2021 wants to get into State court and litigate what they say is a heavily gerrymandered State legislative district map.  A bipartisan group of legislators wants to settle the issue of legislative privilege first. That is; whether they have to deliver to their litigation opponents, private communications between themselves and third-party consultants who advised them during the map-drawing process. A court must answer this question of whether the long recognized legislative privilege extends to dealings with parties outside of the legislature.  According to the Daily Press, this group of intrepid lawmakers is ready to be held in…
Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders
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An 8 Member Supreme Court Could Be a Boon to Minority Voting Rights

An 8 Member Supreme Court Could Be a Boon to Minority Voting Rights

By EditorMar 24, 2016
The late Justice Scalia was "no friend" to voting rights, and his absence could mean the court deadlocks on upcoming decisions regarding redistricting, voter ID, one-man one vote, and more.  This just isn't about cases either, the court takes various requests for interlocutory orders, which can have significant effects on an election.  Josh Gerstein of Politico explains here.
Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, ,
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Common Cause Conference Gives Glimpse Into Post-Shelby Activity in the South

Common Cause Conference Gives Glimpse Into Post-Shelby Activity in the South

By EditorMar 23, 2016
Washington, DC - On March 8 - 9, Common Cause held its Blueprint for a Great Democracy convention.  This session on Race, Redistricting, and Representation gives an extensive overview of redistricting / voting issues in the South and Southwest, especially since the Supreme Court's Shelby decision. Speakers include Allison Riggs, Senior Attorney, Southern Coalition for Social Justice; Ernest Herrera, Staff Attorney, MALDEF; Kathay Feng, Executive Director, California Common Cause & National Redistricting Director. Moderator - George Cheung Program Director, Joyce Foundation’s Democracy Program. https://youtu.be/Grr8MkBbTkM  
Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, , ,
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Supreme Court: Incumbent Congressman Has a Right to His District?

Supreme Court: Incumbent Congressman Has a Right to His District?

By EditorMar 22, 2016
Washington, DC - This was congressman's Rep. Randy Forbes (R., Va.) argument Monday at the Supreme Court.  In an attempt to overturn a federal court in Richmond's congressional map, congressman Forbes asserted his right as an incumbent not to have "his" district altered to his disadvantage; a novel legal argument to say the least.  Read the Wall Street Journal Article here.
Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation,
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