A late effort by Democrats and voting rights groups to change legislative districts before candidate filing begins in North Carolina has been rejected by state judges.
A three-judge panel denied a request Monday by the plaintiffs in a long-standing state redistricting case to have several districts in and around Charlotte and Raleigh altered so they are identical to those approved by federal judges in a similar mapping lawsuit.
The U.S. Supreme Court last week decided those map changes should be delayed while Republican lawmakers appeal, but the plaintiffs in the state case argued a state court could still intervene because the issue involved the state constitution.
The unanimous decision came hours before filing for state House and Senate seats begins at midday.
Despite Monday’s decision, dozens of districts have been altered compared to the 2016 election by a federal court and the legislature.
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