Redistricting Functions

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…

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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…

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VA Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Prisoner Reallocation Law

By EditorSep 23, 2021

The Virginia Supreme Court has rejected a legal challenge to a state law that changes how prison inmates are counted for purposes of redistricting. The petition for a writ of mandamus from the court had alleged that the Virginia legislature acted outside of the "prescribed constitutional amendment process" when it enacted statutory criteria regarding the reallocation of prisoners. It argued that while the commission along with other redistricting criteria was created through referendum and constitutional amendments, the prisoner reallocation statute was not and thus violates the state constitution. The petition had asked the state supreme court to prohibit the commission…

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Census Bureau Delivers 2020 Census Redistricting Data in Easier-to-Use Format

By EditorSep 16, 2021

SEPT. 16, 2021 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File to states and the public in an easier-to-use format. These data are now available on data.census.gov. They are identical to those released Aug. 12 on the Census Bureau’s FTP site and in various data visualizations. The Census Bureau has also delivered to states an easy-to-use toolkit of DVDs and flash drives with integrated browsing software to use in redrawing their congressional and state legislative district boundaries. Topics in both formats include 2020 Census population counts by race, Hispanic origin, voting age and housing unit data for counties, places, census tracts and blocks.…

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Alaska Redistricting Board Adopts Proposed Redistricting Plans

By EditorSep 10, 2021

Press Release: Sept. 9 2021 For Immediate Release: September 9, 2021 ANCHORAGE – Today the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted two proposed redistricting plansin accordance with Alaska Constitution Article VI Section 10, which requires adoption of at leastone proposed plan within thirty days after the official reporting of the decennial census of theUnited States. The census data was received on August 12, 2021.“We have fulfilled our constitutional obligation and I’m pleased to begin the process of hearingfrom the public over the next 60 days as we develop our final plan,” said Board Member NicoleBorromeo. The Board will be meeting on Friday,…

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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…

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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…

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Listen: ACS ‘Broken Law’ Podcast Talks Redistricting Law and Policy with the Brennan Center’s Michael Li

By EditorSep 01, 2021

The American Constitution Society's Lindsay Langholz interviews Michael Li (李之樸), Senior Counsel at the Brennan Center, to talk gerrymandering, census and redistricting ahead of the 2020 redistricting cycle in the states. ACS Broken Law Podcast: Episode 12: Preparing for Redistricting, Bracing for Gerrymandering (Aug 24, 2021)

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Listen: JMU Podcast Interviews David Wasserman on What to Expect for the 2020 Redistricting Cycle

By EditorSep 01, 2021

The James Madison Center for Civic Engagement Democracy Matters podcast series interviews redistricting expert David Wasserman, Senior Editor, U.S. House of Representatives for The Cook Political Report about what this redistricting cycle will look like across the nation. Listen below. Democracy Matters Podcast August 26, 2021

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[Podcast] Partners at Akin Gump, and Professor/Consultant Kareem Crayton Discuss Redistricting Law and the Census

By EditorAug 30, 2021

ON-Air with Akin Gump digs into the legal side of redistricting. In this episode, Akin Gump litigation partner Hyongsoon Kim and Supreme Court and appellate senior counsel Aileen McGrath and Crimcard founder and managing partner Dr. Kareem Crayton discuss redistricting and the impact of the 2020 Census. Listen Below.

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