CA League of Women Voters and Common Cause Release Report & Recommendations for 2030 Redistricting Commission

By EditorJan 17, 2024

The California League of Women Voters and Common Cause CA released a report recently summarizing the 2020 redistricting process with reform recommendations for the 2030 commission. Key recommendations include: Redistricting bodies should continue to use live line-drawing, stream public meetings, and facilitate remote participation when feasible to enhance transparency During the line-drawing process, prioritizing those areas of the state that involve complex Voting Rights Act analysis and compliance with communities of interest requirements. Codifying protections against minority vote dilution into state law to protect the rights of voters of color. The law should take into consideration the state’s multi-ethnic and…

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Analysis of Proposed Legislative Redistricting Plans submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court (Marquette University Law School)

By EditorJan 15, 2024

In late December 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court invalidated the state legislative maps it had approved in 2022. The court's composition changed from a majority of conservative judges to a 4-3 liberal majority and a new lawsuit was filed claiming that many of the districts in the maps approved by the court were not contiguous - in violation of the state constitution. The court gave a January 12 deadline for parties to the litigation to submit maps, and 7 were submitted on the deadline. Marquette University Law School Professor John Johnson, a Research Fellow in the Lubar Center for Public…

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Watch: Former Chief Senate Legal Counsel Discusses the Status of Ohio’s Redistricting Map Saga on “The State of Ohio” Program

By EditorSep 01, 2023

Last Friday, The State of Ohio weekly news program discussed gerrymandering reform and the status of redistricting maps in the State with Frank Strigari, former Chief Legal Counsel for the Ohio Senate. The discussion starts at 6:44. Find us on:

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Update: Status of New York Redistricting Maps. June 2023

By EditorJun 14, 2023

New York's post-2020 census redistricting continues to be contentious. Here is an update on the legal status of the congressional and state legislative maps. In 2022 state courts invalidated all three of New York state's redistricting maps (Congressional, state senate, and state assembly) on procedural grounds after the New York Independent Redistricting Commission deadlocked on maps. With no provision in the state constitution addressing exactly what should happen in the case of a commission deadlock, the legislature enacted its own maps in February of 2022. Later, a state trial court held that the legislature overstepped when it adopted maps and…

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Read: NCSL Report and Recommendations on State Inmate Reallocation Efforts During the 2020 Redistricting Cycle.

By EditorApr 17, 2023

The number of states that reallocate (reassign) prisoners/inmates for redistricting has grown from just 2 during the 2010 redistricting cycle to 13 states in this 2020 cycle. They are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington. The goal of this process is to remove or mitigate distortions in district populations that are caused by correctional facilities that house large numbers of ineligible voters. This entails adjusting census data (which counts inmates where they are physically located) to reflect each inmate's location to be their last known address. The inmate reallocation…

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Briefs Filed in Litigation to Redraw New York’s Congressional Map

By EditorApr 10, 2023

Last week, briefs were filed in a case brought by a group of voters to redraw New York's current congressional map. The state used a map drawn by a court special master to conduct the 2022 election after a map drawn by the legislature was deemed a partisan gerrymander. The New York legislature had only passed its map after a newly established independent redistricting commission (NYIRC), deadlocked on maps in January of 2022. Now the question is whether the legislature, the commission, or both can have another go at it. A trial court in September of 2022 unequivocally answered "no"…

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Redistricting Notes: New Map Challenge Brewing in WI. Boston Map Challenge in Hands of Federal Judge.

By EditorApr 10, 2023

Wisconsin: With a new liberal majority on the Wisconsin supreme court, at least one organization is planning to bring a new legal challenge to the state's Congressional and legislative maps. Expect litigation in the late summer or early Fall. Boston, MA: The Boston City Council's "unity map" is under litigation for racial gerrymandering and after a trial last week, a federal court must decide whether the map will stand. The judge hearing the case has warned that if the map is overturned, the court will not elect to redraw the map or have a special master draw a remedial map.…

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A Flurry of Redistricting Activity Happened Over the Holidays. Here is a Recap

By EditorJan 03, 2022

An incredible amount of redistricting activity occurred over the holidays in over 10 states. It's safe to say you missed most of it. Here is your post-holiday update. Map Adoptions 5 states adopted/enacted redistricting maps just before or after the Christmas holiday. This includes 3 independent citizens commissions, 1 state supreme court, and 1 enactment via a governor's signature. Arizona The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission adopted final congressional and state legislative maps on Dec. 22. The 5 member body voted unanimously for the congressional district map and approved the state legislative map on a 3-2 vote. Click here for interactive maps and media coverage,…

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Michigan Commission Finalizes Redistricting Maps After the Holiday Weekend

By EditorDec 29, 2021

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission approved congressional and state legislative maps on Tuesday, Dec. 28. The 13 member panel voted 8-5 for a congressional map, 9-4 for a senate map, and 11-2 for a house map. View the maps and media coverage below. The commission had endured some controversy over its decision to not release documents and audio from a closed meeting on Oct. 27 regarding minority voting issues. In the end, the state supreme court ordered their release. The maps have also received criticism from state civil rights authorities. 2021 Final Redistricting Maps (click to view interactive map)…

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VA State Supreme Court Approves New Congressional and State Legislative Maps after Commission Misses Deadline

By EditorDec 28, 2021

After the Virginia Redistricting Commission failed to submit a redistricting plan by the governing statutorydeadlines, the Supreme Court of Virginia assumed responsibility for the establishment of congressional and state legislative boundaries following the 2020 census. On Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, the court accepted the special masters' recommendation for maps and adopted final maps for the state. Read the court's final order below. Click on maps to go to interactive map viewer. Congressional Senate House

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