It’s OK to gerrymander, as long you discriminate by politics
Alabama has been reprimanded by a trio of federal judges for its congressional map ahead of the 2022 midterms in 2024. The judges ruled that the map violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by suppressing black voters. They ordered Alabama to adopt a new map that includes a second district favoring black constituents, who make up a quarter of the state’s eligible voters. This ruling is likely to result in a Republican seat in the House of Representatives going to a Democrat next year, as several left-leaning black politicians are considering running. Democrats only need to flip five seats nationally to gain control of the chamber.
Although the case is not yet over, the rulings in Allen v Milligan have set a precedent. The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the district court’s veto of Alabama’s map in June confirmed the constitutionality and relevance of the Voting Rights Act. This is significant because many states have engaged in blatant gerrymandering. The partisan maneuvers following the 2020 census in the Deep South are a direct consequence of the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby County v Holder. This ruling invalidated the formula used to determine which jurisdictions were subject to the pre-clearance regime of the Voting Rights Act, which required places with a history of voter-literacy tests or low turnout to seek federal approval for election changes. Previously, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia could not alter their maps without federal consent. The verdict changed that. However, a full trial is scheduled for 2025.
2023-10-12 09:04:45
Link from www.economist.com
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