Arizona

Arizona Predicted to Gain a U.S. House Seat in 2030

By EditorJan 10, 2025

Arizona’s rapid growth means it is “likely to pick up a 10th seat in Congress” after the 2030 census, pushing its electoral-vote total from 11 to 12, according to new projections by Election Data Services, which cite a July 1 population estimate of 7.6 million and a forecast of 8.2 million residents by decade’s end. Because House seats are fixed at 435, the gain would come at other states’ expense: Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, New York, and especially California are all expected to lose seats, while Idaho would also add one; Texas and Florida are projected to pick up two each,…

Arizona, Census LawArizona, reapportionment, STATENEWS

Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission Finalizes Maps

By EditorDec 24, 2021

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission adopted final congressional and state legislative maps on Dec. 22. The 5 member commission voted unanimously for the congressional district map and approved the state legislative map on a 3-2 vote. View the maps and read media coverage below. Click maps to view interactive version Arizona 2021 Congressional DistrictsArizona 2021 Legislative Districts Media coverage Redistricting in Arizona could lead to a political shakeup (12news.com) Arizona redistricting panel approves map that appears to favor Republicans (thehill.com) Fractious Final Day Ends With Acrimony And Accusations As Redistricting Commission Splits On Legislative Map (patch.com) Who won and who…

LATEST, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting FunctionsArizona, policyindepth, redistricting commissions, STATENEWS

Redistricting Headlines Oct 6 2021: Indiana Adopts Maps. Arizona Begins Map-Drawing and Virginia Commission is at a Stalemate

By EditorOct 06, 2021

A quick look at redistricting-related news across the USA. Arizona: In first moves to draw political maps, Arizona redistricting panel eyes major changes Colorado: Colorado congressional redistricting: Latino advocates, others object to map at state supreme court Indiana: Gov. Holcomb signs Indiana's redistricting maps into law Iowa: Iowa Legislature meets to consider redistricting maps Maryland: In Maryland, 2 separate redistricting commissions look to redraw the legislative map Michigan: Redistricting panel nears end of mapping process, start of public hearing period Michigan: Expert: Michigan redistricting panel can make maps fairer Virginia: ‘We’re sort of stuck:’ Va. Redistricting Commission divided over race…

RedistrictingArizona, headlines, Indiana, Virginia

Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Voting Laws Against Sec. 2 Voting Rights Challenge in Brnovich

By EditorJul 01, 2021

The U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion today overturning a lower court's decision striking down two Arizona voting laws under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The two laws the court upheld restricted out-of precinct voting and certain ballot collection activities in Arizona. Many experts view this as a severe weakening of the Voting Rights Act's protections for minority voters. The Court did seem to distinguish its interpretation of Section 2 in this case, from how it is applied in minority vote dilution redistricting map cases. Read the opinion here. The two voting laws at issue require…

Case Updates, Casedocs, LATEST, LAW, NEWS, Race in Redistricting, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race RulesArizona, CASEDOCS, national

Listen: Supreme Court Oral Argument in Brnovich Voting Rights Act (sec. 2) Case

By EditorMar 03, 2021

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, a lawsuit challenging Arizona's out-of-precinct policy on Election Day, which does not count provisional ballots cast in person that were cast outside of the voter’s designated precinct and its ballot-collection law, which permits only certain persons to handle another person’s completed early ballot. The lawsuit contends these laws violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. While redistricting maps are often challenged for minority vote dilution under Section 2 of the Act, this case involves claims of vote denial as opposed to vote dilution and centers around…

LATEST, LAW, Redistricting, VIDEO, Voting Rights ActArizona, lawindepth, lpscotus, lpvra, national

Are Redistricting Commissions in Danger?

By Michelle DavisJan 09, 2019

Arizona, California and more recently, Ohio are among the handful of states that have established independent redistricting commissions by ballot measures. The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a challenge to Arizona's commission, but at least one election law expert warns that the court may reverse itself on this question in the future. Rick Hasen, Professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine believes this is a real possibility. Read the article in the Atlantic.

FEATURES, POLICY and PRACTICE, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, REFORMArizona, Independent Redistricting Commission, scotus, Supreme Court

Redistrictingonline Monthly Redistricting Update (March 2017)

By EditorApr 04, 2017

Politics Roll Call interviews National Democratic Redistricting Committee Executive Director Kelly Ward about its strategy going into 2020: Watch: Inside the Democrat Party’s National Redistricting Strategy In-Depth Late in 2016, PBS’s American Law Journal gave an in-depth treatment of gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. Hosts interview lawmakers, review the technology behind redistricting and cover reform efforts: Watch: PBS Covers Pennsylvania Gerrymandering and Reform In-Depth Litigation Six years in the making, a federal district court panel released its opinion late last month in the long arduous litigation we call Texas Redistricting. We explain what that means and survey the news coverage in Texas Congressional Districts Invalidated by…

RedistrictingArizona, Florida, reform, Texas, texas redistricting, Virginia

Court Sides with Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission

By EditorMar 19, 2017

Maricopa County, Arizona - A Superior Court judge has rejected the remaining challenges against the work of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. Plaintiffs had challenged the commission's process and accused the commission of violating state open meeting laws. The Supreme Court ruled in the commission's favor in June of 2015. There is no word yet on an appeal.

Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsArizona, Independent Redistricting Commission, lawsuit, Maricopa County

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

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