American Democracy Minute | Radio Report & Podcast on Democracy Issues

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 20, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

In 2014, a New York constitutional amendment created the New York Independent Redistricting Commission. But the redistricting commission lacked both independence and authority, and the 2021 maps ended up in the legislature and ultimately the courts. The Congressional map was in court again last week.

New York’s commission was set up with 10 members: 2 appointed by the assembly speaker; 2 by the assembly minority Leader, 2 by the senate president, and 2 by the senate minority leader. Two other nonpartisan members are chosen by the other 8. The commission, however, is only advisory. The Assembly can vote down Commission maps twice, then must create its own.

On its inaugural run, the commission deadlocked. When Democrats took control of both houses of the legislature, it rejected both maps drawn by the commission, and drew its own gerrymandered maps. Republicans sued, and a court-appointed special master drew the maps used in the 2022 midterms, giving Republicans four additional seats in Congress.

November 5th, a seven-judge panel heard an appeal claiming the redistricting commission didn’t fulfill its constitutional duty, and must be allowed to redraw the maps. The decision, expected shortly, could impact the balance of the U.S. House. Could this mess have been avoided? We’ll describe California’s successful approach in our next report.

We have more on New York’s ill fated redistricting process at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Politico – New York court hears arguments to redraw the state’s congressional maps in 2024
Spectrum News – As New York redistricting maps again head to Court of Appeals, a recap of how we got here
Democracy Docket – Will New York Have A New Congressional Map For 2024?
Princeton Gerrymandering Project – Compare Different Versions Drawn by the Redistricting Commission, State Legislature & Special Master
FiveThirtyEight – Competitiveness of New York’s Congressional Map
Brennan Center for Justice – What Went Wrong with New York’s Redistricting