Augusta City Election Officials Perplexed at Running Elections Without DOJ Supervision

Augusta City Election Officials Perplexed at Running Elections Without DOJ Supervision

By EditorJan 28, 2016
In this local news story, election officials in Augusta City, GA remain befuddled about how to proceed with elections without having to report to the Justice Dept. on their every move. Apparently, the preclearance process has become such an institution in the city, official are at a loss on how to proceed. https://youtu.be/-LCuc1lRx8M
Local Redistricting, Redistricting, Redistricting Race Rules, ,
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Will the Court’s Arizona Decision Spawn More Independent Commissions?

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

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 Commissions,
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Lawsuit Alleges Prison Gerrymandering in Florida County

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 Gerrymanders, , , , ,
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SCOTUSNow Predicts Winner / Losers in Arizona Redistricting Case by Question Count

SCOTUSNow Predicts Winner / Losers in Arizona Redistricting Case by Question Count

By EditorMar 24, 2015
One Chicago-Kent College of Law blog likes to predict winners and losers in major supreme court cases by counting the questions during oral argument. According to the blog author's own statistics, his method is 63% accurate recently - but he says Arizona Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission is nearly a toss up when it comes to the comparative question count. He gives the legislature the upper hand in the end. Read the blog article for his detailed methodology and the actual question counts of the judges.
Redistricting Commissions, ,
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ACLU Files Voting Rights Lawsuit in Fullerton, CA

ACLU Files Voting Rights Lawsuit in Fullerton, CA

By EditorMar 19, 2015
Fullerton, CA: The ACLU  filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of Asian voters in the city of Fullerton, California. The suit alleges that Fullerton's at-large style elections impede the ability of Asian voters to elect their preferred candidates. Unlike, its lawsuit in Yakima, WA, this complaint is based on the California Voting Rights Act as opposed to the federal law. Read the ACLU's release from Wednesday below: Paik v. City of Fullerton is a lawsuit alleging that the City of Fullerton’s at-large elections violate the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), which prevents cities from imposing at-large elections that deny minority communities the…
Local Redistricting, Redistricting, ,
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New Developments in Yakima, WA Vote Dilution Case

New Developments in Yakima, WA Vote Dilution Case

By EditorMar 19, 2015
Yakima, WA: The Yakima city council voted this week to give themselves more time to decide if the council will appeal a recent federal court ruling invalidating its at-large method of electing city council members. The Hispanic population in the city is 42% and Hispanic voters had been unable to an elect a candidate of their choosing in the at-large scheme. The court had to make a finding of racially polarized voting in past election to invalidate the at-large system. The recent court ruling required the city to divide voters into districts, both the city and the ACLU -who was a…
Local Redistricting, Redistricting, ,
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