Category Archives: redistricting

“Questions abound after judges invalidate 2 NC congressional districts”

February 7, 2016, 12:15 pmelection administration, redistrictingRick Hasen

Charlotte Observer: The day after a panel of federal judges invalidated two of North Carolina’s 13 congressional districts, state elections officials were working on a Saturday afternoon to encourage voters with absentee ballots to vote the full ballot anyway. Kim… Continue reading

North Carolina Will Appeal Racial Gerrymandering Case Involving Congressional Districts

February 6, 2016, 7:56 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

See here. I expect the state’s lawyers are spending the weekend drafting an emergency motion to SCOTUS to stay this ruling for the March election, given that absentee ballots are already out. I would not at all be surprised to… Continue reading

3-Judge Federal Court Strikes Down 2 North Carolina Congressional Districts as Racial Gerrymanders

February 5, 2016, 3:33 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

The 100 pages of opinions are here. One of the three judges dissented as to one of the two districts. If North Carolina wishes, it could seek direct Supreme Court review. There is already a Virginia case raising similar… Continue reading

“House takes first step toward district boundaries drawn entirely by Republicans”

February 2, 2016, 9:19 amcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

The Arizona Capitol Times reports.

“Hogan proposing independent redistricting, tougher opiod laws”

January 27, 2016, 7:54 amredistrictingRick Hasen

News from Maryland.

“Seeking to End Gerrymandering’s Enduring Legacy”

January 26, 2016, 11:05 amredistrictingRick Hasen

NYT reports.

All About Redistricting Update

January 25, 2016, 5:34 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Good news from Jeff Wice: I have volunteered to begin updating Justin Levitt’s “All About Redistricting” website. (see http://redistricting.lls.edu/) while he is at the Department Of Justice. I am undertaking this effort with colleagues at SUNY Buffalo Law School… Continue reading

“Virginia Urges Supreme Court to Let Redistricting Plan Stand”

January 22, 2016, 3:01 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Roll Call: Virginia’s election officials urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to keep in place a new, judge-selected redistricting plan for this year’s congressional elections, putting the officials at odds with 10 current and former members of the state’s… Continue reading

“Can Obama Salvage His Democracy Agenda?”

January 15, 2016, 7:50 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Eliza: Having dropped the ball on virtually every good government proposal that he pledged to enact when he first ran for office, President Barack Obama has now zeroed in on an unlikely new target for his democracy agenda: redistricting… Continue reading

“Lawmakers Ask Supreme Court to Stop Virginia Redistricting Plan”

January 14, 2016, 2:51 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Roll Call: Ten current and former Republican members of Congress asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to stop a new, judge-selected redistricting plan in Virginia or risk the state having to postpone congressional elections. The Chief Justice requested a … Continue reading

“Obama’s State of the Union pledge to push for bipartisan redistricting reform was a late add”

January 13, 2016, 11:07 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Interesting from the LA Times: President Obama used his last State of the Union address to push for national voting reforms and went off script to specifically call for bipartisan groups to draw new congressional districts instead of lawmakers. “I… Continue reading

“Judges pick new congressional map for Virginia”

January 7, 2016, 5:22 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

AP: A federal court has picked a new congressional map for Virginia that significantly changes the racial makeup of two districts, but could be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. A three-judge panel on Thursday ordered the state to… Continue reading

Key Election Law/Voting Rights/Campaign Finance Litigation to Watch in 2016

January 4, 2016, 8:15 amcampaign finance, election administration, redistricting, Supreme Court, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

[Bumping to the top for the new year.] I expect a lot of litigation over election issues in 2016, including emergency last minute litigation making it to the Supreme Court as part of what Will Baude calls the Supreme Court’s… Continue reading

“The Next Big Voting-Rights Fight”

December 31, 2015, 1:58 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Emily Bazelon and Jim Rutenberg discuss the Evenwel case at the New York Times Magazine, as part of their “Disenfranchised” Series. Thanks to them for linking to a couple of my posts on this “one person, one vote” case.