Category Archives: redistricting

More Moore

May 4, 2023, 8:54 pmelection law and constitutional law, redistricting, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

The Court has asked for another round of briefing on what the heck should happen in Moore v. Harper, the current vehicle for the “independent state legislature” challenge, now that the North Carolina Supreme Court has said that the… Continue reading

“Colorado county flouts state law aimed at curbing gerrymandering”

May 4, 2023, 8:46 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

The intersection of redistricting and home rule is a sweet spot for local government conflict. The Denver Post has an update on Weld County.

“Independent State Legislature” Theory, North Carolina, and Ohio

May 1, 2023, 7:43 pmelection law and constitutional law, Elections Clause, legislation and legislatures, redistricting, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

Vik Amar and Jason Mazzone suggest that the Court grant cert. pronto in Huffman v. Neiman, the Ohio partisan gerrymandering case, as it considers whatever just happened in North Carolina. Rick had similar thoughts.

“North Carolina Gerrymander Ruling Reflects Politicization of Judiciary Nationally”

May 1, 2023, 7:42 amjudicial elections, redistrictingJustin Levitt

The NYT with a broader perspective on the North Carolina state Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a decision issued just four months earlier, with Supreme Court elections the only meaningful change in between.

Updated: In Ruling with Major Political Implications that Potentially Moots U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Moore v. Harper Independent State Legislature Case, North Carolina Supreme Court, on 5-2 Partisan Vote, Holds Partisan Gerrymandering Claims Cannot Be Brought Under State Constitution

April 28, 2023, 10:09 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

[This post has been updated] In a 5-2 decision along partisan lines, the North Carolina Supreme Court held that it cannot consider partisan gerrymandering claims under the state constitution. This ruling overturns an earlier ruling of the state supreme… Continue reading

What happens to Moore v. Harper after the latest North Carolina Supreme Court decision in the partisan gerrymandering case?

April 28, 2023, 10:04 amredistricting, Supreme CourtDerek Muller

What a mess. Rick H. links to the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision in the partisan gerrymandering cases. The congressional piece of that is in front of the United States Supreme Court right now. Earlier, I blogged about how “mootness”… Continue reading

Mitchell on gov’t agencies at the RNC donor retreat

April 24, 2023, 7:38 amelection administration, NVRA (motor voter), redistricting, voter registrationJustin Levitt

As this blog noted, Cleta Mitchell was invited to give a “special legal presentation” to a recent RNC donor retreat — either because of or despite her role in proceedings attempting to overturn the 2020 election. There has already… Continue reading

“Alaska Supreme Court, in landmark ruling, says partisan gerrymandering violates state constitution”

April 22, 2023, 11:18 amredistrictingRick Hasen

ADN: In a landmark decision, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled Friday that partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional under the Alaska Constitution’s equal protection doctrine. The decision follows a contentious recent reapportionment cycle: The Alaska Redistricting Board was twice found by the… Continue reading

” Gov. Hochul’s top court picks could help tip the balance of Congress”

April 14, 2023, 7:21 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Gothamist: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s latest picks for New York’s highest court could play a key role in deciding whether the state will rip up its congressional district maps and start over — a move that could help determine which party… Continue reading

“New report outlines the deep political polarization’s slow and steady march”

April 9, 2023, 3:01 pmpolitical polarization, redistrictingJustin Levitt

The WaPo with highlights from Dave Wasserman’s latest report, blogged here.

“A study confirms it: Tennessee’s democracy really is as bad as the expulsions made you think”

April 8, 2023, 1:43 pmelection administration, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Vox on Jake Grumbach’s State Democracy Index.

“Redistricting could leave Va. with more partisan lawmakers”

April 5, 2023, 1:41 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Mark Rozell discusses the impact of a redistricting map that pairs incumbents in five Virginia state legislative districts.

“To be safe, Texas Senate again approves political district maps”

April 5, 2023, 1:41 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Because state law requires redrawing the boundaries in the first regular session after the census data are out … and the COVID delays meant that happened after the 2021 session ended.

“Realignment, More Than Redistricting, Has Decimated Swing House Seats”

April 5, 2023, 1:40 pmpolitical polarization, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Dave Wasserman reignites the forever wars over whether polarization and residential moving patterns or redistricting is more to blame for the drop in competitive congressional seats. (Just about everyone believes that the answer is that it’s both. The political science… Continue reading