The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 5, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links now below the script
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Moore v. Harper and Milligan v. Merrill set in motion changes to gerrymandered maps in Alabama, North Carolina, Louisiana, Ohio & potentially Wisconsin.
After the Milligan decision, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey called a special legislative session for July 17th to pass new Congressional maps. The new maps replace those drawn to dilute Black voting power in a state which is over 25% Black, but has only one majority-Black district out of seven.
Last week, the Justices also dismissed a similar racial gerrymandering case in Louisiana, sending the case back to a federal appeals court. Racial gerrymandering cases in Georgia & Texas may also be affected.
In North Carolina, SCOTUS found in Moore v. Harper that state courts had a say in election law, but it won’t prevent the legislature from proposing another partisan gerrymandered map. A new, more-partisan state supreme court is expected to turn a blind eye.
Ohio’s legislature ignored its redistricting commission and drafted its own gerrymandered maps. The Ohio Supreme Court threw them out as violating the state constitution ban on partisan gerrymandering, and the appeal ending up in the U.S. Supreme Court. In light of the Harper decision, the court sent it back to a now more gerrymandering-friendly Ohio Supreme Court for reconsideration. A case is also expected in Wisconsin, where a state supreme court shift in August may finally lead to fair maps. We have details at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
NPR – What the Supreme Court’s rejection of a controversial theory means for elections
The Hill – Alabama governor calls special session to redraw congressional districts
Politico – Supreme Court dismisses Louisiana’s appeal of ruling that found racial gerrymandering
WFAE Charlotte – NC Republicans can still gerrymander maps after independent state legislature theory ruling
Election Law Blog – Breaking: Supreme Court Sends Back Congressional Redistricting Decision to Ohio Supreme Court for Further Consideration in Light of Moore v. Harper
Groups Taking Action:
Alabama – NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Louisiana – Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
North Carolina – Democracy North Carolina
Ohio – Fair Districts Ohio
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition
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