Redistricting Functions

NCSL Covers the Evolution of the Voting Rights Act

By EditorSep 28, 2015

Is the Voting Rights still relevant in 2015? How has it changed voting since 1965? How has it been transformed along the way? Is it still an effective shield against state laws that hinder minority voting? (more…)

Redistricting, Redistricting Race Rulesfeatured, national, U.S.

A Fight Over Transparency in the Virginia Congressional District Court Case

By EditorSep 22, 2015

Richmond Va: The fight over Virginia's 3rd congressional district continues as the various defendants in the case petitioned the District Court to allow the various maps proposed to the court be posted online. The court has already determined that the 3rd district enacted by the Richmond legislature and governor in 2012 improperly diluted minority voter influence in the surrounding districts by concentrating into the 3rd district. The three-judge panel has given parties to the case until October 2 to submit briefs commenting on the 8 proposed maps submitted by various parties to the litigation and other interested members of the…

Redistricting LitigationRichmond, Virginia

Will the Court’s Arizona Decision Spawn More Independent Commissions?

By EditorSep 22, 2015

Now that the Supreme Court has sanctioned Independent Redistricting Commissions brought about by voter ballot intiatives, will more states follow? Is this an effective way to thwart Republican gerrymanders? Michael Sargeant and Mark Schauer ponder these questions in this article in The Hill Blog. They point out that ballot initiatives are not widely available among the states although many could benefit from voter initiatives that take the partisanship out of the redistricting equation. The best strategy according to Sargeant and Schauer is to ensure Democratic majorities in these key states. Read more.

Elections Clause, Redistricting Commissions, REFORMArizona, California, Independent Redistricting Commission

Watch: Debate and analysis of the Supreme Court’s Arizona Independent Redistricting decision on Arizona’s PBS News Hour.

By EditorJun 30, 2015

Watch: Debate and analysis of the Supreme Court's Arizona Independent Redistricting decision on Arizona's PBS News Hour. https://youtu.be/iHCQSNFTaps?t=2m14s

Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsArizona, featured, lawid

Print News Coverage of the Supreme Court’s Arizona Redistricting Commission Decision Monday

By EditorJun 30, 2015

Print News Coverage of the Supreme Court's Arizona Redistricting Commission Decision Monday SCOTUSBLOG: Chief Justices' Robert's broad stance on the meaning of "Legislature" in the Arizona Redistricting case versus a narrow reading of "Legislature" in his Affordable Care Act case dissent. NPR: Law Prof. Rick Hasen speaks to NPR about Chief Justice Robert's dissent and his doubts about whether nonpartisan commissions could ever be nonpartisan. NYT: On why independent redistricting commissions don't necessarily favor liberals. Slate: Rick Hasen on "Mindless literalist interpretations in the service of conservative causes," and how the Arizona decision undermines Bush v. Gore.

Redistricting CommissionsArizona, Independent Redistricting Commission

Supreme Court Looks Past Weak Pleadings to Find Potential Racial Gerrymander in Alabama Map

By EditorApr 14, 2015

The Supreme Court’s recent opinion remanding a challenge by Black state officials to the 2012 Alabama Legislative district map back to a federal district court is relatively short for a majority opinion but chock full of legal nuggets as the justices’ focused on several bases for returning this case back to a lower court to reconsider its ruling against the plaintiffs. In all, the decision discussed four distinct issues; two procedural and two substantive – it felt the lower court bungled. If we had to explain the four corners of the Alabama opinion in one sentence it would be; The…

NEWS, Racial Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race RulesAlabama, black caucus, lawid

Yakima City Council Settles on ACLU Map

By EditorApr 08, 2015

Washington: On Tuesday, the Yakima City Council decided not to appeal a recent federal court decision overturning its at-large election system and approving a district map drawn by one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit; the ACLU. Read more in the Yakima Herald Republic.

Local RedistrictingWashington, Yakima Washington

Appeals Court Overturns Lawyer Fees in Texas Redistricting Case

By EditorApr 08, 2015

AUSTIN, TX — A federal appeals panel has reversed a decision granting roughly $360,000 in legal fees to lawyers who helped former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis fend off Republican-drawn political boundaries as part of a yearslong court fight over Texas’ redistricting maps. Read more in the San Antonio Express. Read the Opinion here.

Casedocs, RedistrictingAustin, Lawyer fees, Texas, texas redistricting, Wendy Davis

Lawsuit Alleges Prison Gerrymandering in Florida County

By EditorApr 08, 2015

The ACLU of Florida has launched a salvo against prison gerrymandering. It filed this lawsuit against a Florida county's inclusion of a state prison in its legislative map. The press release is below. March 9, 2015 MIAMI, FL – Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida filed a federal lawsuit challenging an election system in Jefferson County, Florida which counts the inmate population of a state prison in the drawing of district maps. The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, states that by treating the approximately 1,157 inmates at the Jefferson Correctional Institution (JCI)…

Casedocs, Local Redistricting, Redistricting, Redistricting GerrymandersACLU, Florida, Jefferson county, local, Prison gerrymandering, prisoner reallocation

Understanding Prison Gerrymandering and Its Cure: Prisoner Reallocation

By EditorApr 08, 2015

Long overlooked in the context of redistricting, prisoners are counted by the U.S. Census Bureau as residents of the institutions they are incarcerated in. The goal of redistricting electoral boundaries at the state and local levels is to create equally populated districts that ensure every voter's vote has equal weight in an election. A consensus has been building over the years that large prison populations counted by the Census Bureau in this way, confounds these goals. While the Census Bureau has not changed its counting method for prisoners, in response to growing concern by states and advocacy groups, the Bureau…

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanderscensus, IN-DEPTH, Prison gerrymandering, prisoner reallocation, redistricting