Category Archives: redistricting

“Maryland can’t act alone to end gerrymandering”

March 25, 2016, 3:03 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Rob Richie and Austin Plier in WaPo: Change certainly is needed. Maryland’s obviously manipulated congressional districts have produced results that skew in favor of Democrats. Only one of eight seats is held by a Republican, and white male Democrats… Continue reading

“Judges hear arguments in gerrymandering lawsuit, decision to come later”

March 25, 2016, 11:20 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Wisconsin State Journal: A panel of three federal judges heard arguments Wednesday on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a group of Democrats who say that the 2011 redistricting of state legislative boundaries was an extreme and… Continue reading

“Wittman v. Personhuballah – A Standing-Only Recap”

March 23, 2016, 6:59 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Smart thoughts from Asher Steinberg.

“Election Law’s Path in the Roberts Court’s First Decade: A Sharp Right Turn but with Speed Bumps and Surprising Twists”

March 22, 2016, 8:41 pmcampaign finance, election administration, redistricting, Supreme Court, The Voting Wars, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I have posted a revised version of this paper (forthcoming, Stanford Law Review) to take into account the death of Justice Scalia. Here is the revised abstract: This Essay describes the path of election law jurisprudence in the Roberts Court… Continue reading

More on the #SCOTUS Oral Argument in Virginia Congressional Redistricting Case

March 21, 2016, 8:49 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have now had a chance to review the transcript in Wittman v. Personhuballah, and I agree with other commentators that it seems very likely that the Republican intervenors is likely to fail. It appears that the four Court… Continue reading

Supreme Court Likely to Affirm Racial Gerrymandering Finding in VA Redistricting Case

March 21, 2016, 10:17 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

WaPo: The Supreme Court on Monday seemed likely to leave in place a lower court’s decision that Virginia improperly considered race when drawing congressional districts. Operating without the late Justice Antonin Scalia, it would require only four members of the… Continue reading

“BREAKING: Federal Court Rules Prison Gerrymandering Unconstitutional”

March 21, 2016, 9:07 amfelon voting, redistrictingRick Hasen

Alice Ollstein: The Federal District Court for Florida’s Northern District ruled Monday that the prison gerrymandering in Florida’s Jefferson County unconstitutionally dilutes the voting power of its residents. By packing inmates who can’t vote into a district, but counting… Continue reading

“Wittman v. Personhuballah, The Term’s Standing-Law Sleeper”

March 21, 2016, 7:29 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Asher Steinberg: In sum, Personhuballah has the potential to remake standing in election law, moving candidates and their lost chances of electoral success to the forefront of districting litigation where they’ve always belonged. But Personhuballah also has the potential… Continue reading

“Va. Republicans take redistricting fight to the Supreme Court”

March 20, 2016, 7:28 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bob Barnes and Jenna Portnoy for WaPo: The Supreme Court will take another shot at that in the Virginia case. A panel of federal judges said the commonwealth’s plan veered from partisan gerrymandering aimed at protecting incumbents — for which… Continue reading

Lyle Denniston Previews Va Racial Gerrymandering Case, Argued Next Week at #SCOTUS

March 15, 2016, 7:41 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Here, at SCOTUSBlog.

“North Carolina Exemplifies National Battles Over Voting Laws”

March 10, 2016, 9:29 pmelection administration, redistricting, Supreme Court, The Voting Wars, voter idRick Hasen

Must-read NYT Richard Fausset: The purest distillation of the nation’s wars over voting rules and legislative gerrymandering is playing out in North Carolina. A high-profile lawsuit is taking on a voter identification law and other voting changes. There are four… Continue reading

“In Md. and Va., efforts to end gerrymandering face major obstacles: Lawmakers”

March 10, 2016, 9:24 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“The best laid plans; Court ruling once again splits North Carolina primaries”

March 10, 2016, 9:03 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

That’s the lead story in this week’s Electionline Weekly.

Plaintiffs In NC Redistricting Case Make Forceful Argument State’s Remedial Plan is Unconstitutional Partisan Gerrymander

March 1, 2016, 4:15 amredistrictingRick Hasen

While much of the brief is about how the NC legislature’s new plan is no cure for the earlier redistricting plan found to be a racial gerrymander, perhaps what is most interesting is the discussion of how open and blatant… Continue reading