Category Archives: redistricting

Re-redistricting in the news

June 26, 2013, 9:07 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

This report begins: ” Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) is introducing legislation that would block states from rearranging their congressional districts until after a 10-year Census takes place, a reaction to the Supreme Court ruling striking down a key… Continue reading

“Perry signs redistricting maps”

June 26, 2013, 9:07 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

And now, a whole new round of redistricting litigation in Texas resumes. Ah, the circle of life.

Shelby County and Alaska redistricting

June 26, 2013, 2:06 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

This report begins: “The Alaska Constitution, not federal law, will now reign supreme in the ongoing work of the Alaska Redistricting Board as it draws an election district map.” Sort of. There’s still section 2 of the Voting Rights Act… Continue reading

An unusual filibuster

June 25, 2013, 11:38 pmlegislation and legislatures, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Those of you who went to bed early on the east coast to get a bit of rest for SCOTUS missed a wild evening in Texas. Redistricting is apparently not the only topic that prompts unusual legislative procedure in Austin.

“Counting prisoners, political motives at play in redistricting debate”

June 25, 2013, 9:49 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

After prior districts were struck down, Kentucky is set to take up its state legislative redistricting in a special session. (paywall) Not at issue, yesterday or today? Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Kentucky wasn’t a covered jurisdiction. It’s… Continue reading

Shelby County and Texas

June 25, 2013, 7:30 pmredistricting, voter id, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

As usual, Michael Li breaks down the ramifications of today’s decision for all of the continuing controversy in Texas. One of the curiosities: Texas redrew state and federal district lines in 2011. A DC federal court denied preclearance for those… Continue reading

BREAKING NEWS: Section 4 of VRA struck down

June 25, 2013, 7:10 amelection administration, redistricting, Uncategorized, voter registration, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

The wait is over. SCOTUSblog reports that section 4 of the VRA has been struck down — the formula for determining preclearance coverage. The Chief Justice wrote the opinion, with Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan in dissent. UPDATE: The… Continue reading

“Turning the Political Map into a Partisan Weapon”

June 24, 2013, 7:05 pmpolitical polarization, redistrictingJustin Levitt

The tenth in a Boston Globe series discusses partisan control and use of the redistricting process. There’s no doubt that the redistricting process shifts (and shores up) partisan control of seats. The article also attributes increasing legislative polarization to the… Continue reading

No VRA section 5 opinion today

June 24, 2013, 7:30 amelection administration, redistricting, voter id, voter registration, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

SCOTUSblog is reporting that Shelby County, the case about section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, is not one of today’s opinions. So stay tuned for Thursday (or before, if the Court announces another opinion day. There are six cases… Continue reading

Alaska redistricting board votes on three draft plans

June 23, 2013, 12:19 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Alaska is one of three states (with Kentucky and Texas) with interim maps for 2012 that have to be redrawn. On Thursday, it passed three draft plans to shop around the state in upcoming hearings. That bit of news is… Continue reading

“Federal fight? Texas redistricting likely headed back to feds”

June 22, 2013, 8:13 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

See here.

“How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities”

June 17, 2013, 12:44 pmalternative voting systems, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Steven Hill writes.

“An In-Depth Report on California’s First-Ever Citizen Redistricting Commission – ‘When the People Draw the Lines'”

June 12, 2013, 10:38 amcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

From the League of Women Voters: In the past decade, California voters have worked to increase their voice in the democratic process through passing laws that wrestled power from California legislators. Through Propositions 11 and 20, Californians took a… Continue reading