California Redistricting Commission Gets Confirmation it Can Use Early Census “Legacy Format” Data

By EditorMar 29, 2021

In a letter to the state's independent redistricting commission, Karin Mac Donald, the director of the California Statewide Database program, (SWDB) confirmed that the SWDB has the technical capabilities to process the legacy format files that the U.S. Census Bureau plans to release ahead of the final redistricting data files scheduled to be released by Sept 30. According to the Census Bureau, the data contained in the legacy file and the final file will be identical. Earlier this month, the bureau indicated that despite the six-month delay in delivering redistricting data to the states, it would be possible to release…

Census Data and Geography, DATA and TECHNOLOGY, NEWS, RedistrictingCalifornia, dataindepth, STATENEWS

Ohio’s Lawsuit Over Census Data Delay is Dismissed by Federal Court

By EditorMar 24, 2021

Earlier today, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio denied Ohio's request to the court for an order compelling the U.S. Census Bureau to deliver redistricting data to the state by the statutory deadline of March 31. Ultimately the court denied the request for a preliminary injunction for lack of standing because the Census Bureau's failure to meet its deadline in and of itself does not constitute a redressable injury, explaining that "A litigant is not concretely injured and standing is not met simply because a statute creates a legal obligation that goes unfulfilled." In an opinion…

Case Updates, Census Data and Geography, Census Law, LATEST, LAW, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigationlawindepth, lpother, Ohio, STATENEWS

Pomona, CA Seeks Residents to Serve on its Independent Redistricting Commission

By EditorMar 23, 2021

Pomona, California is seeking 7 residents to serve as commissioners on an independent redistricting panel. Review the requirements here. Pomona City Council Seeks Pomona Residents Interested in Serving on the:Independent Redistricting CommissionPOMONA, CA (March 22, 2021) – If you have a strong interest in the community andyou have the ability to give generously of your time, why not apply to serve on theIndependent Redistricting Commission. Commissioners have an opportunity to makea difference in the community by providing recommendations to the City Council.Commissioners serve on a volunteer basis and are appointed by the City Council.Anyone who is a resident of Pomona…

Local Redistricting, NEWS, RedistrictingCalifornia, local redistricting, Pomona, STATENEWS

A Proposal for a Nevada Independent Redistricting Commission May be Headed for the Ballot. Again

By EditorMar 22, 2021

In Nevada last Wednesday a proposed constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature that would establish a seven-member independent redistricting commission to draw the state's congressional and state legislative districts. The amendment, if adopted would prohibit partisan line-drawing and require competitive districts. The senate and house minority and majority leaders would appoint four commission members and those four would appoint the remaining three members, who must be unaffiliated voters or from a third political party. The joint resolution would still need to be approved in two consecutive sessions of the legislature and by a majority of voters. In 2011 a…

NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsNevada, STATENEWS

Michigan Redistricting Commission Approves 16 Public Hearing Sites

By EditorMar 18, 2021

Press Release (Mar 17, 2021): The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) has approved 16 public hearing sites to solicit input from Michigan residents about the redistricting process for congressional, state senate, and state house districts. Before drawing any lines, the MICRC is required to hold at least 10 public hearings. Per the Michigan Constitution, the purposes for the public hearings are to: Inform the public about the redistricting process.Share the purpose and responsibilities of the Commission.Solicit information from the public about potential redistricting plans for U.S. Congressional, Michigan House, and Michigan Senate districts. The public hearings are tentatively scheduled…

NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsMichigan, STATENEWS

Wisconsin Lawsuit Challenges Legislatures’ Move to Retain Law Firms for Future Redistricting Challenges

By EditorMar 11, 2021

In most states, post-redistricting litigation is a foregone conclusion. In anticipation of just that, the Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate and the Speaker of the House entered into contracts for legal services with two law firms on behalf of the legislature in preparation for inevitable legal challenges after maps are enacted. On Wednesday, a group of citizens sued on behalf of taxpayers to void those contracts as unauthorized expenditures of public funds. At issue is a state statute that allows the speaker and majority leader to obtain legal counsel other than from the Wisconsin department of justice, with the…

Case Updates, NEWS, Redistricting LitigationSTATENEWS, Wisconsin

Alabama Sues Over Census Data Delay and Differential Privacy

By EditorMar 11, 2021

The state of Alabama becomes the second state (after Ohio) to sue over delayed census redistricting data. The lawsuit also challenges the Census Bureau's use of differential privacy on census results, which uses an algorithm to change some of the actual reported data. Delayed Census Data The complaint filed in federal district court in Alabama on Wednesday, claims the Bureau's decision to delay data delivery until Sept. 30 and its decision to deliver the data to all 50 states simultaneously, was beyond its authority. The Bureau announced on Feb 12 that it would not meet its statutory deadline and would…

Case Updates, Census Data and Geography, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting LitigationAlabama, lpother, STATENEWS

New York State Officials Sued Over Funding for Redistricting Commission

By EditorMar 09, 2021

The controversy over funding of the New York Redistricting Commission has come to a head as two individuals sue the governor and other state officials over the impasse. One plaintiff is a former candidate for the state legislature and the other, a member of the commission itself. They challenge the decision to provide funding for the commission through a third-party organization as opposed to a direct appropriation, which they claim is required by the state constitutional provision establishing the commission. This is the latest in a months-long saga for the commission that began when funds were not appropriated to the…

Case Updates, LATEST, NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, State Lawslpother, new york, redistricting commissions, STATENEWS

California Redistricting Commission Launches Communities of Interest Tool

By EditorMar 03, 2021

PRESS RELEASE 2020 California Citizens Redistricting CommissionLaunches Communities of Interest Tool SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) and the California Statewide Database announced the launch of the Communities of Interest (COI) input tool, designed to make it easier for Californians to participate in the redistricting process. Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts so that the state’s population is evenly allocated among the new districts. When the Commission creates new districts, it must follow certain…

Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting CriteriaCalifornia, coi tool, communities of interest, policyindepth, press-releases, redistricting commissions, STATENEWS

Ohio Fires First Salvo in Court Over Delayed Census Redistricting Data

By EditorMar 01, 2021

On Thursday, Ohio became the first state to sue the U.S. Census Bureau over late redistricting data. After the Bureau announced it would delay the release of the data on the statutory deadline of March 31, postponing release to Sept 30, the Ohio Attorney General filed suit in federal district court to request data delivery for Ohio either on the statutory date or on the earliest date possible. The complaint challenges the decision of the Census Bureau to delay data delivery to the States due to processing delays caused by Covid-19 and its focus on delivering apportionment data to the…

Case Updates, Casedocs, Redistricting, Redistricting Litigationcensus, census 2020, Ohio, STATENEWS, U.S. Census Bureau