A coalition of North Carolina voters, the state’s Democratic Party and election reform group Common Cause have successfully challenged Republican-drawn state House and Senate redistricting maps in North Carolina following a decision in state courts on September 3 that ruled Republicans took extreme advantage in drawing voting districts to help elect a maximum number of Republican lawmakers.

Last week’s ruling by a three-judge panel gave state lawmakers two weeks to prepare new state legislative maps.

State Representative Graig Meyer, a House Democrat representing Orange and Caswell counties in the General Assembly, said the ruling on gerrymandering could represent a step a nonpartisan redistricting process.

“I think it makes it much more likely that we will end up with an independent, nonpartisan process for redistricting somewhere down the road,” he said. “Although, we are not quite there yet with this ruling.”

This ruling happened after an earlier decision in June by the U.S. Supreme Court that determined federal courts should not weigh in on the constitutionality of political redistricting, even in extreme cases known as gerrymandering. State courts across the country, however, have taken on the question of how much partisan gerrymandering is too much.

NC Senate Leader Phil Berger told the Associated Press last week that his chamber would move forward adopting a “nonpartisan map” following the court’s ruling.

Representative Meyer said he was hopeful that this new attempt at drawing state legislative districts will lead to public awareness of the structural changes needed for the future.

“People will see how messy this process is and that you really do not want legislators drawing their own districts and picking their own voters for their election,” he told WCHL. “The farther we go down the legal course here, the more I think there will be public demand for doing it a better way that people believe is fair.”

North Carolina’s House and Senate Standing Committee’s on Redistricting are scheduled to meet for the first time following the court’s mandate today, according to the General Assembly’s legislative calendar.

Related Stories
‹
North Carolina Redistricting Trial Begins, With Racial Gerrymandering Allegations the Focus
North Carolina districts drawn by Republicans that helped retain majorities in Raleigh and Washington are a topic in federal court this week.
NC House Minority Leader Shares Thoughts on Latest Round of Redistricting and Maps
Rep. Robert Reives II discussed North Carolina's latest redistricting efforts and his concerns over the state's lack of checks and balances.
North Carolina Republicans Put Exclamation Mark on Pivotal Annual Session With Redistricting Maps
The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to new redistricting maps poised to empower the state GOP for years.
Court Opens Door To Voiding N. Carolina Voter ID Amendment
Written by JONATHAN DREW and GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina’s highest court opened the door Friday to nullifying a voter ID mandate approved by citizens in 2018 because the lawmakers who put it on the ballot were elected from districts tainted by illegal racial bias. However, the North Carolina Supreme Court stopped short of striking […]
NC Supreme Court OKs Speeding Up Redistricting Arguments
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON In another remapping decision along partisan leanings, the North Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to speed up arguments on further challenges to the boundaries for the state’s legislative seats and congressional districts. By a 4-3 ruling with registered Democrats in the majority, the justices granted a request by Common Cause to accelerate the redistricting […]
Justices To Hear NC GOP Appeal That Could Limit State Courts
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear an appeal from North Carolina Republicans that could drastically limit state court authority over congressional redistricting, as well as elections for Congress and the presidency. The justices will consider whether state courts, finding violations of their state constitutions, can order changes to […]
New NC District Maps Due Feb. 18; Expert Shares Reactions to Ruling
The North Carolina Supreme Court recently struck down maps drawn by Republican lawmakers. The court said it was an act of partisan gerrymandering which violates the state constitution. Now, the North Carolina General Assembly has until February 18 to submit a new set of maps.
NC Redistricting Trial Concludes; Ruling Coming Within Days
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON A rapid trial over North Carolina’s new congressional and legislative districts concluded Thursday with closing arguments over whether the boundaries contain unlawful gerrymanders that should be replaced for upcoming elections. The three trial judges have until Tuesday to rule, the result of a directive by the state Supreme Court, which last […]
‘Concept Maps’ Revealed as NC Redistricting Trial Winds Down
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON A North Carolina state legislator who helped orchestrate redistricting in his chamber this fall acknowledged Wednesday that he examined some “concept maps” that were created quietly by someone else before he drew new boundaries in a public committee room. The testimony by House Redistricting Committee Chairman Destin Hall in a trial […]
NC Judges Deny Requests to Block Elections Under New Maps
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina’s 2022 elections under new legislative and congressional maps can begin as scheduled next week after state judges on Friday rejected demands from lawsuit filers who claim the lines have to be blocked because they so egregiously favor Republicans. The refusal of a three-judge panel to issue preliminary injunctions against the […]
›