Category Archives: redistricting

“Redistricting by Formula: An Ohio Reform Experiment”

April 26, 2017, 8:57 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Micah Altman and Michael McDonald in American Politics Research: In the last decade, Ohio reformers advocated redistricting by formula: selecting the redistricting plan that scores best on a predefined objective scoring function that combines prima facie neutral criteria with political… Continue reading

Judicial Watch, Which Backs Maryland Partisan Gerrymandering Claim, Objects to “Efficiency Gap” in WI Redistricting Litigation

April 25, 2017, 1:41 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Amicus brief.

Paul Clement Brief on WI Redistricting Calls Court Policing of Gerrymandering “Dangerously Wrong”

April 24, 2017, 8:31 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

AP: Attorneys for the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to uphold GOP-drawn legislative boundaries, saying a ruling that found them to be unconstitutional was “dangerously” wrong. The filing comes in support of separate and similar… Continue reading

“Lawsuit: 2015 Redistricting Violated Black Voters’ Rights”

April 24, 2017, 1:34 pmredistricting, voting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

AP: Georgia lawmakers violated federal voting rights law by moving black voters out and white voters in to two state House districts in 2015, according to a lawsuit filed Monday that calls the mid-decade redistricting an effort to protect white… Continue reading

“Court: Texas House map intentionally diluted minority votes”

April 21, 2017, 7:44 amredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

The Texas Tribune reports.

“‘Pivotal Moment’ for Democrats? Gerrymandering Heads to Supreme Court”

April 21, 2017, 7:42 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Michael Wines on the Wisconsin partisan gerrymandering case heading to SCOTUS.

Breaking: Divided District Court Finds Texas Engaged in Intentional Race Discrimination in Drawing TX House Districts

April 20, 2017, 12:44 pmredistricting, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

The same three-judge court that recently held that Texas’s congressional redistricting violated the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act in drawing some districts has now issued this new decision and these findings of fact in relation to the challenge… Continue reading

Nick Stephanopoulos and Ruth Greenwood’s Gerrymandering Wedding Cake Also on John Oliver Segment

April 12, 2017, 10:18 amelection law "humor", redistrictingRick Hasen

Watch around the 14 minute mark (NSFW).

Justin Levitt Makes It onto John Oliver’s Segment on Gerrymandering!

April 11, 2017, 7:54 amelection law "humor", redistrictingRick Hasen

At about the 12 minute mark.

“Why you should stop blaming gerrymandering so much. Really.”

April 8, 2017, 9:26 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Aaron Blake: But gerrymandering is also blamed too much for too many things — especially for our political polarization and for Republicans’ strong advantage in the House. Just last week, an op-ed in The Washington Post blamed gerrymandering for breeding … Continue reading

“How to Quantify (and Fight) Gerrymandering”

April 5, 2017, 4:01 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Big piece in Quanta Magazine.

Status Conference Order in TX Redistricting Cases Suggests Further Action on State House Case, Issue of Putting Texas Back under Federal Supervision

April 5, 2017, 3:43 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

A few weeks ago the three-judge court decided a challenge to the 2011 Texas congressional redistricting plan. Pending is a challenge to the 2011 House districts. That opinion may come any time. There also needs to be a trial on… Continue reading

The WI Gerrymandering Case and the Costs of Mandatory Jurisdiction

April 4, 2017, 8:59 ampolitical parties, redistrictingRichard Pildes

The 2-1 federal court decision striking down Wisconsin’s redistricting plans for the state legislature as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander, Whitford v. Gil, is without doubt the most significant lower federal court decision on partisan gerrymandering the lower courts have ever… Continue reading

What Happened to Paul Clement’s Representation of WI in Partisan Gerrymandering Case?

March 30, 2017, 5:02 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Back in February it was reported that the Wisconsin legislature was bringing in Paul Clement to work on the partisan gerrymandering case. Last week the Wisconsin DOJ filed its jurisdictional statement (the equivalent of a cert. petition for an appeal). … Continue reading