Redistricting Litigation

Meet the Man Behind the Texas Voter ID Lawsuit

By EditorJul 26, 2016

Texas - U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey was a state legislator in Texas when that body passed a comprehensive Voter Identification law. He had misgivings after witnessing the legislative debate and eventually sued. North Texas public radio's Rick Holter sat down with Veasey, who represents Texas' 33rd congressional district, to discuss what brought him to sue and whether he thinks the recent Fifth Circuit ruling will relieve the harms he says it causes to some voters. Listen below.

Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race RulesTexas, voter ID

Texas Appeals Court Rejects Voter ID Law. Sort of

By EditorJul 25, 2016

Texas - This Wednesday the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a major blow to the 2011 Texas Voter ID law which has been in effect now since 2013. The main legal challenge against this law, which specifies 7 types of photo identification that must be used to register and vote - has been that it violates the Voting Right Act both because it was passed by the legislature with an intent to discriminate against poor and minority voters and because in practice, it has a discriminatory effect on those groups. With respect to the discriminatory effect claim, the…

Casedocs, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race RulesTexas, voter ID

Trial Begins On North Carolina State Legislative Districts

By EditorApr 14, 2016

North Carolina - The state's congressional map has already been partially invalidated by a court on grounds that it is an unconstitutional gerrymander. Next up; several state house districts. A three-judge in Greensboro, NC is hearing the case this week in a lawsuit filed by 27 voters. Read more.

Redistricting LitigationNorth Carolina

Senators cited for contempt in redistricting case

By EditorApr 13, 2016

Lawmakers are challenging a judge's order to turn over documents, claiming legislative privilege. Source: Senators cited for contempt in redistricting case

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigationcontempt, legislative privelege, Virginia

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 LitigationEvenwel, Supreme Court

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 Litigationscalia, Supreme Court, washington dc

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 LitigationVirginia, washington dc

Federal Panel Rejects Two North Carolina Congressional Districts

By EditorFeb 08, 2016

North Carolina - A federal court panel ruled late Friday that two of North Carolina’s 13 congressional districts were racially gerrymandered and must be redrawn within two weeks, sparking uncertainty about whether the March primary elections can proceed as planned. An order from a three-judge panel bars elections in North Carolina’s 1st and 12th congressional districts until new maps are approved. Read More.

Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race RulesNorth Carolina

Evenwel May Just Be an Awful Can of Worms

By EditorJan 30, 2016

Victoria Bassetti, writing for Brennan Center in this article titled "Supreme Court Redistricting Case Is New Front in Voting Wars," speaks eloquently about the dangerous thinking behind the Evenwel case now before the U.S. Supreme Court. If the powers that be actually have a choice on what population base to use when redistricting, won't politics come in to play? Read the article here.

Redistricting, Redistricting LitigationEvenwel, one person one vote, Supreme Court

Listen to U.S. Supreme Court Oral Argument Audio in Evenwel v. Abbott

By EditorJan 25, 2016

On December 8, 2015 the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Evenwel v. Abbott, on the concept of “one person, one vote” and whether states could consider total population or the number of eligible voters when redrawing legislative districts. Click below to listen.

Redistricting, Redistricting LitigationAbbott, evenel, texas redistricting