This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping voting rights act designed to combat nationwide state level voting restrictions proposed by Republican lawmakers in the wake of the 2020 election. The For the People Act, more commonly known as H.R. 1, would expand voting rights, overhaul campaign finance rules, and reform redistricting laws. […]
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Supreme Court Declines to Rule Partisan Gerrymandering Unconstitutional
Today, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision declaring that partisan gerrymandering, the redrawing of legislative districts to favor one political party over another, presents a political question that federal courts cannot review. In his opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by four conservative members of the Court, concluded that “partisan gerrymandering claims present political […]
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Supreme Court Upholds Virginia Redistricting
On Monday, June 17th, the Supreme Court decided to uphold district re-drawings in spite of republican’s challenge to reverse racially gerrymandered districts. Written by Justice Ginsburg, majority 5-4 decision states Virginia preferred to “stop than fight on,” illuminating that they are ready for an election with these already redrawn districts. These districts were originally drawn […]
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Again, Judges Rule North Carolina’s Congressional District Map Unconstitutional
On Monday, a three-judge panel on the Circuit Court of Appeals ruled North Carolina’s congressional district map as unconstitutionally gerrymandered to favor Republicans.
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Today is the 53rd Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
August 6, 2018 marks the 53rd anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing into law the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965. Politicians and organizations alike are recognizing the milestone on social media, highlighting how the VRA continues to influence American elections and politics today.
Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Against Pennsylvania Congressional Map
On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to block the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling invalidating the state’s heavily gerrymandered congressional map and requiring that Pennsylvania’s districts be redrawn before the 2018 election.
Judges Rule Two Congressional District Maps Unconstitutional
On Monday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the state’s Republican drawn congressional districts were unconstitutional and ordered they be redrawn in the next several weeks.
Three Texas Voting Laws Ruled Racially Discriminatory
In 2013, the Supreme Court overturned the provision requiring specific states to seek federal approval, freeing Texas to pass whatever election laws it pleased. Voting rights activists have stated that if that provision of the Voting Rights Act was still in place, Texas taxpayers would have been spared the significant legal costs incurred defending these unconstitutional laws.
Supreme Court Ruling Prevents Gerrymandering
In a 5-4 decision delivered by Justice Ginsburg this morning, the Supreme Court upheld Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission, allowing the use of independent state commissions to draw federal congressional districts and taking that power away from the state legislature.
Florida Lawmakers Hold Special Session to Redraw Gerrymandered Maps
Florida lawmakers are in Tallahassee today for a special nine-day session to redraw the state’s congressional districts after a state court ruled last month that Republicans had illegally redrawn the districts for their own benefit. Leon County, Florida Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis found in July that state Republicans had created “a shadow redistricting process” […]
