Listen: NPR Spotlights Redistricting Reform in Virginia

By EditorMar 20, 2017

Virginia - NPR interviews the executive director of One Virginia 2021, a nonpartisan organization that's challenging the constitutionality of 11 state legislative district boundaries.

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, REFORMgerrymandering, NPR, reform, Virginia

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

(Video) Court to Decide Illinois Redistricting Reform Fate Soon

By EditorJul 07, 2016

Illinois - Redistricting reform in Illinois will soon get a decision from a court on whether a proposed 11 member redistricting commission can be submitted to voters as a ballot initiative for an up or down vote. Listen to this local ABC news station interview a representative from the reform group behind the ballot measure on its prospects. http://abc7chicago.com/video/embed/?pid=1411236

Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, REFORMballot initiative, Illinois, reform

Colorado Redistricting Reform Fails

By EditorJul 06, 2016

Colorado - The State's Supreme Court has thrown out two constitutional ballot measures that would have changed how Colorado draws its congressional and state legislative maps. A 4-3 decision ruled that the measures were in violation of the state constitution's "single-subject" rule. The measures would have established a 12- member nonpartisan commission to redraw congressional and state legislative districts. Read more here.

Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, REFORMballot initiative, colorado, reform

Book Review: Daley’s “Rat**cked” Tackles Redistricting Through the Decades

By EditorJun 27, 2016

New York - Pulitzer prize-winning writer Elizabeth Kolbert and staff writer for the New Yorker, reviews this book: "Ratf**ked," detailing the Republican party's Redistricting Majority Project or "REDMAP." This was a strategic effort beginning decades ago to realign the electoral map in favor the party. Written by David Daley, editor of Salon.com - the book describes its provocative title as an actual term of art, associated with dirty tricks for partisan advantage; gerrymandering was one of them. Spoiler alert: the Voting Rights Act helped their efforts, especially in the 1990's. Interestingly, Kolbert's article identifies Virginian Patrick Henry as the first person…

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, REFORMBook Review, David Daley, national, New Yorker, Redistricting Majority Project, REDMAP

Prison Gerrymandering Decision Halted in Rhode Island

By EditorJun 19, 2016

Cranston, Rhode Island – A federal appeals court has temporarily halted a lower court decision and order to redraw the city’s legislative boundaries pending an appellate hearing. A U.S. District Court had found that the Cranston city ward map violated the equal population mandate required under the U.S. Constitution by including the local (nonvoting) prison population in one of the wards. Thus, an initial “win” for prison gerrymandering advocates has been put on hold. A state chapter of the ACLU initiated the original lawsuit on behalf of 4 Cranston residents. The lower court judge had ordered the City redraw its…

Redistricting, REFORMcity, Cranston, equal population, Prison gerrymandering, prisoner reallocation, Rhode Island

Several Ohio Election Administration Practices Invalidated by Courts

By EditorJun 10, 2016

Ohio - A federal judge blocked several restrictions on the casting and counting of absentee ballots instituted by the Republican Secretary of State. This is the second defeat to GOP-backed voting restrictions in the state in the last two weeks. GOP voting procedures have been rebuffed on constitutional grounds by both Democrat and Republican judges. Officials still plan to appeal. Read more in the Columbus Dispatch. Another federal judge restored the state's elimination of a specific time period that eligible voters could register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day. A shortened early voting period was also restored. Read more in…

REFORMelection administration, Ohio, voter ID, voters

Redistricting Reform in Illinois Invites Lawsuit

By EditorMay 13, 2016

Illinois: A battle over a referendum to install an independent redistricting commission has ensued in Illinois. Reformers are running up against staunch opposition to a plan to that would create a bi-partisan redistricting commission. Read more.

Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, REFORMIllinois, Independent Redistricting Commission, lawsuit, reform

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.

REFORMArizona, commission, election administration, election reform, Maricopa County

PODCAST: Georgetown Public Policy Review Talks Voting Rights in 2016

By EditorJan 27, 2016

From the Georgetown of Politics and Public Service, IPPS fellow Buffy Wicks, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, and Ari Berman, reporter for The Nation join Georgetown Public Policy Review executive media editor Matt Emeterio to discuss the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, recent changes restricting access to the ballot, and what will happen with voting rights in the 2016 election. Listen to the podcast below. https://soundcloud.com/gppolicyreview/episode-5-voting-rights

Redistricting, Redistricting Race Rules, REFORMGeorgetown Public Policy Review, lawid