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Supreme Court Mostly Befuddled in Oral Argument Over Maryland Partisan Gerrymandering Case

By EditorMar 29, 2018

Washington D.C. - This Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in one of the three partisan gerrymandering cases before the court this term (Benesik v. Lamone). The transcript is available here. In this novel first amendment challenge to Maryland's sixth congressional district, the court appears to remain befuddled at how to apply neutral standards when measuring just how much political gerrymandering is too much, although almost all of the justices seem to agree that Maryland's sixth district is "too much." (more…)

Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigationbenesik v Lamone, congressional, featured, Maryland, MD, oral argument, partisan gerrymandering, scotus, Supreme Court

ABC News Takes a Deeper Look at Pennsylvania’s New Congressional Map

By EditorMar 12, 2018

Pennsylvania - The state's new congressional map drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court may look more esthetically pleasing to most, but it has serious political implications. Watch ABC News sum up what the new map does to the partisan balance in Pennsylvania.

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanderscongressional, featured, League of Women Voters of PA, PA State Supreme Court, partisan gerrymandering, Pennsylvania

State Supreme Court Redraws Pennsylvania Congressional Map

By EditorFeb 22, 2018

Pennsylvania - This January, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the state's congressional map was an unconstitutional gerrymander. The plaintiffs had alleged the map is an eggregious partisan gerrymander executed by Republican state lawmakers that allowed Republicans to win 72% of the state's congressional delegation with just 50% of the vote. Here is the new map that court quickly adopted after the PA. state legislature failed to meet its deadline to agree and enact a replacement map. Read more at NBCnews, Washington Post, and New York Times.

NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, State Lawscongressional, featured, League of Women Voters of PA, PA State Supreme Court, partisan gerrymandering, Pennsylvania

The FiveThirtyEight Blog Releases the Atlas of Redistricting. The Maps are Impressive but Unusable

By EditorJan 28, 2018

This week, the sports and politics polling blog FiveThirtyEight released its Atlas of Redistricting. It takes a comprehensive look at the mapping possibilities for every congressional district in the nation, and is part of the site’s Gerrymandering Project, which seeks to uncover in their words, “[what] is greatly misunderstood . . .” about redistricting and whether “gerrymandering can (or should be) killed.” The maps are impressive. They produce congressional maps for seven common, but vastly different redistricting goals. The result is that you get to see what your (or any) state’s congressional map would like if it were drawn…

Equal Protection, FEATURES, Redistricting, Redistricting GerrymandersAtlas of Redistricting, congress, congressional, featured, fivethirtyeight, gerrymandering, legal, maps, partisan gerrymandering

A Quick History of North Carolina Redistricting Litigation Post 2010

By EditorJan 22, 2018

North Carolina - The redistricting process in North Carolina has the makings of a classic thriller. There are twists, turns, politics, intrigue, and edge of your seat courtroom drama. Not to mention the crazy quilt of maps. Here is an overview of what has happened so far in this state’s district drawing saga. (more…)

Partisan Gerrymandering, Racial Gerrymandering, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigationcongressional, featured, house, legal, maps, North Carolina, northcarolina, partisan gerrymandering, racial gerrymandering, senate, special master, state legislature, Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court Stays Lower Court Order to Redraw North Carolina Congressional Map

By EditorJan 19, 2018

North Carolina - This just in. The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed a lower court order to redraw North Carolina's congressional districts. That court recently found the North Carolina map to be an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander and ordered that the map be redrawn in time for the 2018 elections. Does this mean the court will likely overturn this case in the end? (more…)

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Listen: Supreme Court Oral Argument in Wisconsin Partisan Gerrymandering Case Whitford v. Gill

By EditorJan 14, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLu61vk-kns&t=102s The case is a challenge to Wisconsin's state legislative district map. It alleges the Wisconsin state assembly drew politically gerrymandered districts to entrench Republican power in 2011. Plaintiffs claim the gerrymander was so egregious, it violated the first and 14th amendments. A federal district court panel invalidated the map on those grounds in 2016.

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Everything You Wanted to Know About the Wisconsin Partisan Gerrymandering Case in One Infographic

By EditorJan 14, 2018

If you have been meaning to do a Google search and read up on the partisan gerrymandering case over Wisconsin's state legislative district map, but you don't have the 3 hours you will need to bone up on just what "partisan gerrymandering" is and why it might be illegal, here is the infographic for you. You will be up to snuff before lunch is done. Courtesy of the Brown Political Review:

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, Redistricting Litigationfeatured, infographic, partisan gerrymandering, Whitford v Gill, Wisconsin

Federal Court: North Carolina Congressional Districts Illegal Partisan Gerrymander

By EditorJan 14, 2018

North Carolina - On January 9th, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina ruled that the state's 2016 Plan violates the Equal Protection Clause, the First Amendment, and Article I of the Constitution. Survey the news coverage. (more…)

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Michigan Launches Anti-Gerrymandering Campaign on Four Fronts

By EditorApr 20, 2017

Michigan - The Voters Not Politicians Ballot Committee is looking to end partisan gerrymandering in the state for good. The group, including Wayne State University political science professor Kevin Deegan-Krause, will be heading up a good government initiative to end gerrymandering using (1) a ballot initiative; (2) legislation introduced in the state legislature; (3) a lawsuit claiming partisan gerrymandering that is patterned after the pending Wisconsin lawsuit; and (4) a partnership with the Democratic party's newly formed initiative to counter ongoing Republican electoral dominance via redistricting. Read more here.

Redistricting, Redistricting Gerrymanders, REFORMfeatured, Michigan, partisan gerrymandering, reform