2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Hires Anthony Pane as Chief Counsel

By EditorMay 07, 2021

SACRAMENTO, CA—This week, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) announced the hiring of Anthony Pane as Chief Counsel. Mr. Pane joins the Commission from the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), where he managed the day-to-day activities of attorneys and advised Board/Bureaus on Bagley-Keene requirements among other things. PRESS RELEASE : May 7, 2021 2020 California Citizens Redistricting CommissionHires Anthony Pane as Chief Counsel “The Commission is fortunate to have Mr. Pane join our team,” stated Chair Alicia Fernández. “He brings a wealth of experience working for state agencies and advising on Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act adherence, the state…

NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsCalifornia, STATENEWS

Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Launches Online Public Comment Portal

By EditorMay 07, 2021

The portal allows users to submit written testimony, identified communities of interest, and plan maps for review by the commission. The portal was developed in collaboration with the MGGG Redistricting Lab at Tufts University. You can view the portal introductory video below. Go to the MICRC Portal https://youtu.be/FWfGrEQehUk

NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting CriteriaMichigan, policyindepth, STATENEWS

Federal Court Dismisses Alabama Challenge to Including Illegal Immigrants in Apportionment Results

By EditorMay 04, 2021

On Monday, a federal district court in Alabama dismissed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Census Bureau's practice of including the "whole number of persons in each state" in the census counts for apportionment. The state of Alabama had filed the challenge to block the inclusion of unlawful immigrants in the apportionment count, but the recently announced apportionment results played a role in the case dismissal. According to Alabama, the Final "2020 Census Residence Criteria and Residence Situations Rule" promulgated by the U.S. Census Bureau on February 8, 2018, provides that foreign nationals living in the U.S. will be counted in…

Case Updates, Casedocs, LAW, NEWS, RedistrictingAlabama, CASEDOCS, STATENEWS

State Court Invalidates the Wisconsin Legislature’s Retainer of Two Law Firms for Redistricting Litigation. Read the Opinion

By EditorApr 30, 2021

On Thursday, a Wisconsin Circuit Court voided two contracts state legislative leaders had entered into with two law firms in anticipation of redistricting litigation. The court concluded that both contracts are void because the legislative defendants were not authorized [under the state constitution or the various statutes contemplated in the case] to hire those firms for litigation purposes. Summary judgment was granted and defendants are permanently enjoined from authorizing any further payment on the two contracts for any services performed pursuant to them. Some excerpts from the court decision are below. Click here to read the opinion. Circuit Court: The…

Case Updates, Casedocs, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting PrepCASEDOCS, lawindepth, STATENEWS, vos, Wisconsin

2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Hires Marcy Kaplan as Director of Outreach

By EditorApr 29, 2021

Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) announced Marcy Kaplan as the new Director of Outreach. Ms. Kaplan served as the Commission’s Outreach Manager under Executive Director Alvaro Hernandez. The announcement was made during the Commission meeting today. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021CONTACT: FREDY CEJAFredy.Ceja@crc.ca.gov(916) 879-0699PRESS RELEASE2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Hires Marcy Kaplan as Director of OutreachSACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) announced Marcy Kaplan as the new Director of Outreach. Ms. Kaplan served as the Commission’s Outreach Manager under Executive Director Alvaro Hernandez. The announcement was made during the Commission meeting today. Ms.…

NEWS, RedistrictingCalifornia, STATENEWS

Students, educators can now enter Ohio Education Association’s redistricting contest through June 1, 2021

By EditorApr 20, 2021

On Monday the Ohio Education Association extended its May 1st deadline for entries into the association's Design Ohio’s Future contest to June 1. The contest invites students and educators to submit nonpartisan redistricting maps. Read the press release below: DEADLINE EXTENSION: Students, educators can now enter Ohio Education Association’s redistricting contest through June 1, 2021 [April 19, 2021] As Ohio’s lawmakers prepare to once again redraw the state legislative and congressional district maps, Ohio students and educators are being asked to try their own hands at redistricting as part of the Ohio Education Association’s Design Ohio’s Future contest. Although the contest…

Redistricting, REFORMOhio, STATENEWS

Maryland Citizens Redistricting Commission Announces Members

By EditorApr 16, 2021

This Thursday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced the selection of six additional members to complete a nine-member citizens redistricting commission created by Hogan in January of this year. The panel will act as an advisory commission to recommend congressional and legislative district maps to the Governor in preparation for redistricting during the 2022 legislative session. The Maryland Constitution requires the governor to submit a state legislative district map to the General Assembly on the first day of the 2022 legislative session. Traditionally, a congressional map is also submitted but it is not constitutionally required. Read the press release regarding the…

NEWS, RedistrictingMaryland, STATENEWS

16 States Join in Alabama’s Challenge to the Census Bureau’s Data Privacy Program

By EditorApr 14, 2021

On Monday, 16 states joined Alabama in deriding the U.S. Census Bureau's newly adapted data privacy policy (aka differential privacy) which uses statistical algorithms to distort raw census data before it is released to states and the public. The states who jointly filed as amici in Alabama's lawsuit against the Bureau are Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia, and Utah. The amicus brief filed on behalf of these states lists three "major harms" caused by differential privacy. 1) local redistricting cannot be conducted with any reasonable accuracy; 2)…

Case Updates, Casedocs, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, LATEST, NEWS, RedistrictingAlabama, Alaska, arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, lawindepth, louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, STATENEWS, Texas, Utah, West Virginia

Oregon Supreme Court Establishes Revised Deadlines for Legislative Maps

By EditorApr 10, 2021

On Friday, the Oregon Supreme Court issued new deadlines for state legislative redistricting in light of the census redistricting data delay. The order extends state constitutional deadlines for legislative redistricting by three months. It does not address congressional redistricting in the state, which is governed by state statute. Read the opinion here. In its opinion and order, the court explained that the revised deadlines will enable the Legislative Assembly and the Secretary of State to fulfill their constitutional duties "without significantly affecting the rights of voters or interfering with the 2022 general election cycle." Practically speaking it observed that a…

Case Updates, Casedocs, Enacting a Redistricting Map, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigationenacting, IN-DEPTH, lpstatelaw, Oregon, policyindepth, STATENEWS

California Citizens Redistricting Commission Announces Redistricting Line Drawing Contract

By EditorMar 31, 2021

PRESS RELEASE: 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Announces Redistricting Line Drawing Contract SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) announced the approval of HaystaqDNA and Q2 Data & Research, LLC as the contractors selected to assist in the professional and technical drawing of district lines. The Commission is tasked with mapping new districts based on the 2020 Census in conformity with strict, non-partisan rules put in place to ensure fair representation for all Californians. HaystaqDNA and Q2 Data & Research, LLC served as technical consultants to the Arizona and California independent redistricting commissions, respectively, in 2011. The line…

NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsCalifornia, STATENEWS