***UPDATE: The three-judge panel rejected the request to stay the decision that two districts are unconstitutional. That ruling was then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.***

Officials with the State of North Carolina filed an emergency petition on Monday to stay a decision from a panel of three federal judges that ruled two of North Carolina’s congressional districts were unconstitutional.

The ruling came down late Friday and ordered lawmakers to redraw the 1st and 12th district by February 19.

State Senator Bob Rucho and Representative David Lewis, two architects of the latest districts, issued a joint statement Monday saying:

“We trust the federal trial court was not aware an election was already underway and surely did not intend to throw our state into chaos by nullifying ballots that have already been sent out and votes that have already been cast. We hope the court will realize the serious and far-reaching ramifications of its unprecedented, eleventh-hour action and immediately issue a stay.”

The State Supreme Court upheld the maps in late December.

North Carolina voting maps have been a heated topic of debate for years as lawmakers of the controlling party have been legally allowed to draw maps that favor the reelection of members of their party.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers presented a bill in 2015 that would have created an independent redistricting commission, as has been done in other states, but the bill moved nowhere.

Jane Pinsky is the director of the North Carolina Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform. She spoke with WCHL’s Blake Hodge about the decision and what it means for North Carolina voters going forward.

 

Pinsky says residents can sign a petition against gerrymandering or call her office at (919) 833-0092 for more information.