Category Archives: redistricting

175th (and 176th) Redistricting Lawsuit Filed

July 8, 2012, 11:14 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

That’s right — 40 states have now seen 176 lawsuits affecting redistricting this cycle … so far. Numbers 173-176 were filed challenging the newest Pennsylvania state maps late last week. Details on all of the litigation so far, here.… Continue reading

“So what’s going on in the Texas redistricting cases?”

July 5, 2012, 9:36 amDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Nada.

Ohio Redistricting Reform Headed to Ballot?

July 3, 2012, 12:09 pmredistricting, voter initiativesJustin Levitt

Pending signature verification, it looks like Ohio may have redistricting reform on the ballot once again this November. The initiative would create a commission to draw districts modeled in some ways on California’s new commission, though with important differences in… Continue reading

Interesting NJ Federal Court Opinion on Candidates’ Durational Residency

July 3, 2012, 10:42 amredistricting, residencyJustin Levitt

In a 2001 decision in Robinson v. Bartels, a NJ federal court invalidated New Jersey’s one-year durational residency requirement for state legislative candidates following a redistricting cycle, on federal constitutional grounds. Earlier this year, the NJ State Supreme Court disagreed,… Continue reading

[Maryland] “Congressional Map Opponents Turn in 36K Signatures”

July 1, 2012, 5:54 pmredistricting, referendumJustin Levitt

The referendum campaign to overturn Maryland’s congressional maps turns in 36,267 signatures. That’s just 7,294 more than the requirement — a pretty slender margin for any petition. So now, the white knuckles turn to verification of the signatures…

The Missing Link Between Obamacare and Redistricting…

July 1, 2012, 5:30 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

From the opinion pages of the Columbus Dispatch.

SCOTUSblog: “One Mystery, One Order on Elections”

June 29, 2012, 2:17 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

The mystery that Lyle mentions is the lingering West Virginia case on equal population requirements in redistricting. And now, it will linger until fall…

“Redistricting Petitioners in Maryland in Final Push for Names”

June 29, 2012, 12:14 pmredistricting, referendumJustin Levitt

If this petition drive succeeds, it would put Maryland’s congressional map up for referendum. The only other such referendum over new redistricting lines that I’m aware of is the referendum over California’s state Senate lines (there was an earlier drive… Continue reading

Alaska state legislative districts precleared

June 28, 2012, 1:24 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

See this Anchorage Daily News report. State legislative districts in Alabama and Mississippi, and congressional districts in New Hampshire (and, of course, Texas districts beyond the 2012 interim plan) still need preclearance, but most statewide plans are done at this… Continue reading

Nick Stephanopoulos Responds to Himself

June 28, 2012, 12:01 amredistrictingJustin Levitt

In the newest addition to the Harvard Law Review Forum, Nick Stephanopoulos updates his very interesting examination of “Spatial Diversity” and its role in the redistricting process. His latest uses census data to analyze the new congressional districts… Continue reading

“Redistricting: Are You Smarter than a 3rd Grader?”

June 27, 2012, 7:47 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

Plunderbund has this post on the Voters First proposal to create an independent redistricting commission in Ohio. (Dislosure: I’m part of this coalition.)

“Hispanics Looking for November Gains in US House”

June 27, 2012, 7:40 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

The AP has this story, reporting that the current number of Hispanic-held seats is “virtually guaranteed to increase by at least three or four seats because of once-a-decade redistricting that’s created new Hispanic-majority districts in California and Texas” and … Continue reading

Hearing on Alaska Section 5 Case

June 26, 2012, 12:51 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActDan Tokaji

The three-judge district court in Samuelson v. Treadwell (Kozinski, Beistline, and Singleton) has issued this order setting forth the issues to be addressed at Thursday’s hearing. The complaint challenges the use of an as-yet unprecleared state legislative redistricting plan. Alaska’s… Continue reading

Another Alaska Redistricting Dispute

June 25, 2012, 9:04 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActDan Tokaji

Today’s Juneau Empire has this report on a dissent from two of the five state supreme court justices, arguing that the maps to be used this year violate the state constitution. The order and dissenting opinions may be found here… Continue reading