Category Archives: redistricting

“Democracy on the High Wire: Citizen Commission Implementation of the Voting Rights Act”

August 29, 2012, 8:35 amcitizen commissions, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Justin Levitt has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The Voting Rights Act, often praised as the most successful civil rights statute, is among the most fact-intensive of election regulations. California, the country’s most populous and most… Continue reading

“Texas Voter District Maps Rejected by U.S. Judges”

August 29, 2012, 8:08 amDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Bloomberg reports.

Texas Redistricting Story Roundup

August 28, 2012, 8:22 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Reuters Austin American-Statesman Houston Chronicle National Law Journal San Antonio Express-News Washington Post CNN New York Times SCOTUSBlog AP

Will the Texas Redistricting Opinion Affect This November’s Elections?

August 28, 2012, 7:25 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

I thought the answer was certainly “no,” but Michael Li offers some alternative possibilities.

On Going Straight to Federal Court with a Section 5 Challenge

August 28, 2012, 7:13 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

A reader writes: What are the odds that Hans von Spakovsky will admit this was bad advice? Abusing the Voting Rights Act The lesson here is that Republican-controlled legislatures that have drawn up redistricting plans that Democrats don’t like would… Continue reading

“Texas Redistricting Hits Minorities, Court Rules”

August 28, 2012, 4:52 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Jess Bravin reports for WSJ.

“Judges Toss Out Texas’ New Redistricting Maps”

August 28, 2012, 4:51 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Carrie Johnson reports for NPR.

Ari Berman on Today’s Texas Redistricting Decision

August 28, 2012, 4:42 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Here, at The Nation.

Breaking News: Federal District Court Denies Preclearance of Texas Redistricting Plans [Now updated with analysis]

August 28, 2012, 12:04 pmDepartment of Justice, redistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

You can read the opinion here (there was a partial dissent by Judge Griffith, who wrote most of the majority opinion as well). From the introduction: The latest Census reports that since 2000 the population of Texas grew by over… Continue reading

“Groups ask judges to review whether GOP lawyers hid evidence”

August 24, 2012, 4:58 pmchicanery, redistrictingRick Hasen

News from Wisconsin: “The plaintiffs in a redistricting case against GOP lawmakers want federal judges to order a review of whether Republicans’ lawyers hid key evidence.”

“Alabama Legislative Black Caucus files lawsuit over redistricting plans (video)”

August 13, 2012, 10:26 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Al.com reports.

“Foxes, Henhouses, and Commissions: Assessing the Nonpartisan Model in Election Administration, Redistricting, and Campaign Finance”

August 1, 2012, 2:04 pmcampaign finance, election administration, redistricting, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Online registration is now open for this symposium which will take place at UC Irvine Law on September 14. Here is the relevant information: Foxes, Henhouses, and Commissions: Assessing the Nonpartisan Model in Election Administration, Redistricting, and Campaign Finance Friday,… Continue reading

“Forecasting the Flashpoints”

July 30, 2012, 7:37 amcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

Nick Stephanopoulos has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Harvard Law Review Forum). Here is the abstract: In an earlier article, I relied on 2005-2009 data from the American Community Survey (ACS) to analyze the congressional districts that were used… Continue reading

“Alabama Seeks Court OK for Redistricting, Bypasses DOJ”

July 28, 2012, 9:57 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WSJ law blog: “The Voting Rights Act has been challenged more in the last two years than in the previous 45 years, and as the state of Alabama goes to court seeking approval for its redistricting plan, it’s also looking… Continue reading