Census Bureau Begins 2015 Testing in 2 States

Census Bureau Begins 2015 Testing in 2 States

By EditorFeb 23, 2015
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Census Bureau will begin the 2015 Census Test in the Savannah, Ga., area on Feb. 23 by allowing residents to register for the upcoming test using its "Notify Me" website. Residents across 20 counties in Georgia and South Carolina will have the opportunity to specify how they would like to be notified to participate in the count beginning on March 23. Traditionally, the Census Bureau has communicated through the mail. However, the "Notify Me" website provides an additional option for people to register their preferred contact information at census.gov/2015 to be notified…
Strategy and Politics
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City of Santa Barbara Bracing for the Inevitable: Losing in Court

City of Santa Barbara Bracing for the Inevitable: Losing in Court

By EditorFeb 18, 2015
The city of Santa Barbara is bracing for the inevitable change to district elections after the at-large voting system for its city council election was challenged under the Voting Rights Act. According to the Santa Barbara Independent, the city has approved $400,000 to hire a notable voting rights attorney, not to win its lawsuit, which is scheduled to go to trial soon, but to prepare a new district map and perhaps negotiate a settlement. City officials point out two cities that lost in similar challenges; Palmdale and Whittier. Like many local jurisdictions around the country, formally homogeneous populations are changing rapidly…
Redistricting,
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Judge Chooses ACLU Map for Yakima, Washington City Council

Judge Chooses ACLU Map for Yakima, Washington City Council

By EditorFeb 18, 2015
Its official, the Yakima, Washington city council will now elect its members from seven single-member districts, two of which will have large Latino voting populations. The city had been sued by the ACLU for its at-large voting system and the effect it had on the Latino community. A federal district court found in favor the ACLU and directed both the city and the ACLU to offer a redistricting map that would afford the Latino population better representation. The court this week, chose the ACLU map. Read.
Redistricting, ,
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Census 2020 Starts Now!

Census 2020 Starts Now!

By EditorFeb 04, 2015
It seems as though census 2010 was just yesterday but with the New Year, the 2020 census timeline is upon us; the official Census Bureau 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program begins later this year. The program’s five phase process leads up to and dictates the operational schedule for delivering crucial population data that states use for redistricting. Here is a quick summary of those phases: Block Boundary Suggestion Project Beginning in the second half of 2015, participating states will appoint liaisons that will receive suggestions from state and local officials on how census block geography should look in their jurisdictions.…
Redistricting, Strategy and Politics
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Language Minority Provisions of the Voting Right Act

Language Minority Provisions of the Voting Right Act

By EditorFeb 04, 2015
The U.S. population is becoming increasingly diverse. Many regions have significant populations for which English is not their first language, to address this the Voting Rights Act was amended to include the minority language provisions of section 203. Section 203 of the VRA requires registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, to be provided in the language of an applicable minority in jurisdiction where: citizens of voting age in a single language group within the jurisdiction: Is more than 10,000, or Is more than five percent of all…
Redistricting, Redistricting Race Rules, ,
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Santa Fe Looking for a Few Good Geographers

Santa Fe Looking for a Few Good Geographers

By EditorJan 19, 2015
The City of Santa Fe, New Mexico is looking for citizens to fill the seven spots on its Citizens' Redistricting Commission. The body will be in charge of redrawing Santa Fe's city council districts. The city is looking for a geographer or cartographer to sit on the commission to help with the challenge of redrawing political boundaries after a recent annexation. Read local coverage here.
Redistricting Commissions, Strategy and Politics,
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Listen: Supreme Court Oral Argument in Alabama Racial Gerrymander Case

Listen: Supreme Court Oral Argument in Alabama Racial Gerrymander Case

By EditorDec 08, 2014
  Listen to the Supreme Court's oral arguments in the consolidated cases; Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama and  Alabama Democratic Conference v. Alabama. Democratic lawmakers in the Alabama legislature claim the Republican-led legislature packed Black voters into state legislative districts to dilute their voting power resulting in an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The court heard oral arguments on November 12th 2014.    
Equal Protection, LAW, NEWS, POLICY and PRACTICE, Race in Redistricting, Racial Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race Rules, ,
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Supreme Court Will Decide Whether Alabama Gerrymander is a Racial or Partisan One.

Supreme Court Will Decide Whether Alabama Gerrymander is a Racial or Partisan One.

By EditorDec 08, 2014
NPR previews Ala. Legis. Black Caucus v. Alabama; a claim alleging that the Alabama state legislature's 2010 legislative redistricting map is a racial gerrymander. Alabama says the Voting Rights Act made them create the map. Listen below. http://www.npr.org/v2/?i=363375057&m=363458938&t=audio  
Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race Rules,
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