North Carolina Can Use Gerrymandered Map In November, Court Rules

[Roland99]

WTF?!



https://www.npr.org/2018/09/05/644767877/north-carolina-can-use-gerrymandered-map-in-november-court-rules

Judges in North Carolina on Tuesday said that despite declaring the state's electoral map to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered for partisan reasons, there wasn't enough time for the map to be redrawn before midterm elections in November.

"We further find that imposing a new schedule for North Carolina's congressional elections would, at this late juncture, unduly interfere with the State's electoral machinery and likely confuse voters and depress turnout," Judges James Wynn Jr., William Osteen Jr. and W. Earl Britt wrote in their order Tuesday.

Last week, the same panel of judges in the District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina said that a 2016 congressional redistricting plan was made with the express purpose to "ensure Republican candidates would prevail in the vast majority of the State's congressional districts." The court said the Republican-created plan violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, the First Amendment, and Article I of the Constitution.

...

But delaying until the following Supreme Court term would be an "abomination," Common Cause said, accusing state officials of purposely dragging their feet: "There is no doubt that delay is their game," the group's lawyers said Tuesday.

[gratuitous]

1. And it goes on for two more years

Isn't this a fun game? Republicans rig the game, Democrats sue, courts rule that the rigging is unconstitutional, but it's too late to draw a fair map, and we'll go another election cycle under a corrupt system. When the results of that corrupt election come through in favor of the cheaters (big surprise), the cheaters will draw a new map. Guess how it's going to unfold?

[unblock]

2. the state should be told they'll forfeit their seats in congress until they get a fair map

This is a horrendous precedent that rewards and encourages unconstitutional behavior.

A legislature faced with losing representation in congress would fix the problem with lightning speed!

[Blue_true]

5. That would work. Explain that if the Court rejects their next map, two red district seats get

two red district seats get eliminated.

[dsc]

3. The fact is we are in a crappy position

If we try to redraw the districts to make them fairer we can't have the election on November so we run the very real risk of tanking our turnout. We also give them the chance to draw a district that lets them jettison the very weak nominee they have in district 9. I don't like running with these districts but given our current options I think it is better than running in redrawn ones in December or January.

[Blue_true]

4. I agree with the Court.

Getting people into new districts after a primary has been held would be a nightmare.

[MyOwnPeace]

6. You know.......

it's not always fun to have someone come into a discussion with reason and logic. It just takes all of the fun out of the protest!

(but I agree with your response - it would be great to know that there will be a follow-up to the issue that assures corrective measures will be taken for the NEXT election!)