Category Archives: redistricting

“Ahead of court ruling, Census Bureau seeks citizenship data”

March 6, 2019, 6:14 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtJustin Levitt

The AP has more on the latest at the Census Bureau. I think this is an effort to gather the administrative data that Census employees said would be more effective at assessing statistical citizenship rates, with fewer downsides for public… Continue reading

“Second Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Census Citizenship Question Plans”

March 6, 2019, 3:09 pmchicanery, redistricting, Supreme Court, The Voting WarsJustin Levitt

Big (and voluminous) news from California: in a 126-page opinion, Judge Seeborg has enjoined the inclusion of a question regarding citizenship on the 2020 census. The decision follows on Judge Furman’s opinion out of New York, but is more… Continue reading

Stay of NC State Ct Order Voiding Voter ID Amendment Because Enacted by Impermissibly Gerrymandered Legislature

March 6, 2019, 3:03 pmredistricting, voter idJustin Levitt

On February 22, Rick noted that a North Carolina state trial court had voided a constitutional amendment pertaining to voter ID, because the amendment had been put on the ballot by a legislature elected pursuant to an unconstitutional gerrymander. … Continue reading

“Fighting Gerrymandering in 2021”

March 6, 2019, 3:00 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

Calling the hipsters at SXSW: I got an idea for your Friday afternoon.

Plaintiffs’ Merits Brief in Maryland Redistricting Case

March 5, 2019, 7:01 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

From Plaintiffs-Appellees’ Brief filed in the Supreme Court yesterday: A State may not inhibit “the political participation of some in order to enhance the relative influence of others.” McCutcheon v. FEC, 572 U.S. 185, 191 (2014). Given this insuperable principle,… Continue reading

Merits Briefs in N.C. Gerrymandering Case

March 4, 2019, 12:00 pmredistrictingDan Tokaji

Plaintiffs-Appellees have filed their briefs in Rucho v. Common Cause/League of Women Voters. From the Common Cause plaintiffs’ brief: The 2016 North Carolina Congressional Plan (“2016 Plan” or “Plan”) is the most overt, and likely the… Continue reading

Holder Says He Won’t Run for President, Will Focus on Redistricting

March 4, 2019, 6:40 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

WaPo op-ed: Though I will not run for president in 2020, I will continue to fight for the future of our country through the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and its affiliates. For too long, Democrats have lost sight of… Continue reading

Big 10 Redistricting Conference

March 3, 2019, 5:11 amelection law biz, redistrictingDan Tokaji

I’m off to College Park this afternoon for the Big Ten Strategic Partnership for Applied Redistricting Knowledge (SPARK) Conference Monday and Tuesday, hosted by the University of Maryland.

Trial to Begin in Ohio Partisan Gerrymandering Case

March 3, 2019, 4:58 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

AP reports that the trial before the three-judge district court is scheduled to start Monday in Cincinnati.

Two Members of Maryland Redistricting Commission Resign

March 3, 2019, 4:38 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

The Baltimore Sun reports: Two members of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s redistricting commission resigned after The Baltimore Sun asked questions about whether their participation in the body redrawing Maryland’s congressional districts violated state rules.The move came as the commission… Continue reading

Ryan Williamson, “Examining the Effects of Partisan Redistricting on Candidate Entry Decisions”

March 2, 2019, 4:49 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

The abstract of this new ELJ article: Redistricting has been a highly contentious topic in American politics for many decades. The many instances of politicians exploiting the redistricting process to achieve a partisan goal have been widely chronicled. Nonpartisan… Continue reading

NH House Approves Redistricting Reform Bill

March 1, 2019, 4:08 amredistrictingDan Tokaji

Concord Monitor: House Bill 706 passed 218-123, but only 16 members of the Republican minority voted in favor of the proposal, with 123 Republican members against.Crafted by Durham Democrat Marjorie Smith, the bill would create an independent redistricting commission… Continue reading

Wisconsin: “Tony Evers to propose nonpartisan redistricting process in budget”

February 26, 2019, 1:01 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Wisconsin State Journal reports.

“Michigan gerrymandering lawsuit now up to judges”

February 25, 2019, 3:07 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Detroit News: A three-judge panel is weighing the fate of a high-profile federal lawsuit alleging gerrymandering by Republican mapmakers who drew Michigan political boundaries in 2011.Plaintiffs who sued over the maps and Republicans who are defending them on Friday… Continue reading