Category Archives: redistricting

“How Big a Deal Is a New Congressional Map for Pennsylvania?”

January 22, 2018, 9:51 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Nate Cohn for NYT’s The Upshot: The Republicans are counting on a favorable congressional map to help their majority ride out a possible “wave” election this November. But the congressional map got a little less favorable on Monday when the… Continue reading

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Strikes Congressional Districts on State Law Grounds; And There’s a Longshot Theory to Get SCOTUS Review

January 22, 2018, 12:13 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Today the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on state law grounds held the state’s congressional districting violated the state constitution. It ordered the state legislature to submit a plan with compact and contiguous districts. If it can’t get a plan signed by… Continue reading

“A second bite at the apple? State constitutions and the ethos of fairness in elections”

January 22, 2018, 7:29 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Franita Tolson oped in The Hill.

“GOP legislators ask altered North Carolina maps be delayed”

January 21, 2018, 7:37 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

WRAL: The GOP lawmakers’ lawyers filed Sunday a motion asking the federal judges stay their order accepting new boundary lines from a special master while legislators appeal that order to the U.S. Supreme Court. They want a decision by Monday… Continue reading

“Drawing the Line on Redistricting”

January 20, 2018, 11:50 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

New Bruce Cain column in the American Interest: The Supreme Court has decided to review three partisan redistricting cases this term. One case centers on an alleged Republican partisan gerrymander in Wisconsin (Gill v. Whitford), another on an alleged Democratic… Continue reading

North Carolina redistricting – where we’re at

January 19, 2018, 6:04 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

Justin here: just a quick note for those trying desperately to keep track of what’s where in North Carolina redistricting given the last few days. (This is the really short version.) Don’t worry, this’ll all change by the time you… Continue reading

Breaking and Analysis: Three Judge Court in North Carolina Racial Gerrymandering Case Unanimously Adopts Special Master Plans for Remedying Violations; Next Stop SCOTUS?

January 19, 2018, 12:18 pmredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

In a unanimous and expected opinion and order (92 page pdf), the three judge court in the Covington case, on remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, adopted special master Nate Persily’s plan to adopt new legislative districts to… Continue reading

“Why Asking About Citizenship Could Make the Census Less Accurate”

January 19, 2018, 7:45 amredistrictingRick Hasen

Lynn Vavreck for NYT’s The Upshot: The government dedicates tremendous resources to reminding people to return their census form and even sends people to the doors of households from which no form has been filed. Mostly, it gets results. But… Continue reading

“The Supreme Court Is Finally Tackling Gerrymandering”

January 19, 2018, 7:35 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bloomberg Businessweek, with the subhead: “Academics give SCOTUS cover to rule on extreme cases of redistricting.”

Breaking: Supreme Court, with Two Dissents, Stays Order to Redraw Congressional Districts After Lower Court Finding of a Partisan Gerrymander

January 18, 2018, 3:41 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

This just in: The application for stay presented to The Chief Justice and by him referred to the Court is granted, and it is ordered that the order of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North… Continue reading

North Carolina Files Reply Brief for Stay in Partisan Gerrymandering Case; Supreme Court Can Issue Ruling at Any Time

January 18, 2018, 1:51 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Paul Clement’s reply brief for North Carolina. Here’s what I wrote last week about the stay request’s chances: Meanwhile, Paul Clement just filed a stay motion in the North Carolina partisan gerrymandering case, where the lower court had just… Continue reading

Maryland: “Governor Larry Hogan Announces Nonpartisan Redistricting Reform Legislation, Joins Amicus Brief; Governor Will Support Plaintiffs in Benisek v. Lamone”

January 18, 2018, 1:28 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Republican governor in Democratic state will sign brief arguing the Supreme Court should rein in partisan gerrymandering.

Pennsylvania Republicans Hint at U.S. Supreme Court Appeal in State Gerrymandering Case

January 17, 2018, 8:46 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Today the Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case arguing that Pennsylvania’s congressional districts violate the state Constitution. Ordinarily a ruling on state constitutional grounds cannot be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, because there are no federal… Continue reading

“Don’t ‘reward gamesmanship and obstinacy,’ NC gerrymander challengers say”

January 17, 2018, 8:38 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

News and Observer: Attorneys representing voters who successfully challenged North Carolina’s congressional districts as unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders are protesting lawmakers’ attempt to use the election maps again this year. U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts had given attorneys until noon… Continue reading