Michigan has a smart idea for fixing gerrymandering. Conservatives want to crush it.

Reformers hoping to rein in partisan gerrymandering have a big idea that’s caught on in several states: handing the redistricting power over to an independent commission, rather than politicians in the legislature, as Michigan’s electorate voted to do last year.

Source: Michigan has a smart idea for fixing gerrymandering. Conservatives want to crush it.

Michael Morley: Rucho, Legal Fictions, and the Judicial Models of Voters

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Rucho v. Common Causepresents competing judicial conceptions of American voters. Justice Kagan’s dissent encourages courts to employ an “evidence-based, data-based, statistics-based” approach when considering political gerrymandering claims.

Source: Michael Morley: Rucho, Legal Fictions, and the Judicial Models of Voters

Gerrymandering symposium: Finally finality from the Supreme Court on partisan gerrymandering

Justin Riemer is Chief Counsel of the Republican National Committee, which filed an amicus brief in support of the state in Rucho v. Common Cause. The Supreme Court’s decision in Rucho v. Common Cause is a triumph of judicial prudence.

Source: Gerrymandering symposium: Finally finality from the Supreme Court on partisan gerrymandering

Gerrymandering symposium: Janus-like judicial restraint in political gerrymanders and the census

Ken Klukowski is Of Counsel at First Liberty Institute, Senior Legal Analyst for Breitbart News and Senior Fellow at the American Civil Rights Union.

Source: Gerrymandering symposium: Janus-like judicial restraint in political gerrymanders and the census

Partisan gerrymandering is upheld by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court Thursday upheld the partisan gerrymandering that has allowed Republicans to control power in several closely divided states. A majority ruled that elected lawmakers, not judges, have right to draw the election maps for their states.

Source: Partisan gerrymandering is upheld by Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court Gerrymander Opinions Likely on June 21 or June 24

The U.S.. Supreme Court opinions on partisan gerrymandering will probably be released either Friday June 21, or Monday June 24.  No election law cases were issued on June 20.

Source: U.S. Supreme Court Gerrymander Opinions Likely on June 21 or June 24

Supreme Court blocks gerrymandering rulings in Michigan and Ohio

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside two lower court rulings tossing out congressional maps in Michigan and Ohio, putting the process of redrawing district lines on hold while it prepares to rule on whether or not partisan gerrymandering is constitutional.

Source: Supreme Court blocks gerrymandering rulings in Michigan and Ohio

Neil Gorsuch’s Bad-Faith Ploy to Save Partisan Gerrymandering and Doom American Democracy

Most Americans agree that partisan gerrymandering is a scourge to democracy. But is it one that citizens can fix themselves? That’s the theory floated by Justice Neil Gorsuch during oral arguments at the Supreme Court on Tuesday over two major gerrymandering cases.

Source: Neil Gorsuch’s Bad-Faith Ploy to Save Partisan Gerrymandering and Doom American Democracy

Proportionality is Not the Baseline In Modern Partisan Gerrymandering Cases

At oral arguments in yesterday’s partisan gerrymandering cases, several Justices raised questions about whether partisan-gerrymandering challenges implicitly appeal in one way or another to a baseline of proportional representation (PR).

Source: Proportionality is Not the Baseline In Modern Partisan Gerrymandering Cases

U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments in appeal of Virginia racial gerrymandering case

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday in a redistricting case that could help determine the balance of power in Virginia’s legislature for years to come.

Source: U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments in appeal of Virginia racial gerrymandering case

The Democrats' Voting Rights Bill Could End Partisan Gerrymandering. Republicans Won't Let That Happen.

On Friday, the House passed a voting rights bill aimed at ending corruption in politics. H.R.

Source: The Democrats' Voting Rights Bill Could End Partisan Gerrymandering. Republicans Won't Let That Happen.

Gov. Hogan, Arnold Schwarzenegger weigh in on Maryland redistricting case before U.S. Supreme Court

Gov. Larry Hogan has filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to back up the claims of Maryland residents who argue the state’s 6th Congressional District was unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

Source: Gov. Hogan, Arnold Schwarzenegger weigh in on Maryland redistricting case before U.S. Supreme Court

Justices to tackle partisan gerrymandering … again: In Plain English

Every 10 years, the federal government conducts a census. The states then use the data from the census to draw new maps for their state legislatures and federal congressional districts. The maps often take politics into account – for example, to protect incumbents.

Source: Justices to tackle partisan gerrymandering … again: In Plain English

Supreme Court casts long shadow over talks on gerrymandering reform

Durham, N.C. — If the 300-odd people packed inside a cavernous Duke University event space this weekend to discuss efforts to end gerrymandering needed any reminders the issue was rapidly shifting under their feet, they barely had to wait for the event's opening lunch. Around noon Friday, the U.

Source: Supreme Court casts long shadow over talks on gerrymandering reform

Panels to End Gerrymandering Could Reach SCOTUS (2)

Redistricting commissions formed to draw fairer congressional maps have sprung up in more than one third of states—partly in response to the lack of judicial clarity on partisan gerrymandering. But their legal vitality could be on shaky ground.

Source: Panels to End Gerrymandering Could Reach SCOTUS (2)

Supreme Court to take on partisan gerrymandering this year

The Supreme Court will grapple with the legality of partisan gerrymandering in March when it hears arguments challenging congressional-district maps in two states.

Source: Supreme Court to take on partisan gerrymandering this year

Utah Initiative for Nonpartisan Redistricting Passed, Even Though it Lost in 25 of Utah’s 29 Counties

Final Utah election returns show that Proposition Four, setting up an independent redistricting commission for U.S. House and state legislative boundaries, passed with 50.3% of the vote.  The final tally is:  yes 512,218; no 505,274. The measure failed in 25 of Utah’s 29 counties.

Source: Utah Initiative for Nonpartisan Redistricting Passed, Even Though it Lost in 25 of Utah’s 29 Counties

Republicans just got bad news about one of their worst gerrymanders

Virginia’s House of Delegates is one of the most gerrymandered bodies in the country. In 2017, Democrats won the statewide popular vote in Virginia’s legislative races by over nine percentage points.

Source: Republicans just got bad news about one of their worst gerrymanders

Supreme Court discussing partisan gerrymandering behind closed doors Friday

The Supreme Court is scheduled to return to a deeply divisive issue on Friday when the justices meet behind closed doors to discuss an issue left unresolved last term: when do states go too far in drawing district lines for partisan gain?

Source: Supreme Court discussing partisan gerrymandering behind closed doors Friday

Maryland faces big battle over partisan gerrymandering

The redistricting after the 2020 Census will mark the first time in modern history that Maryland has redrawn its congressional maps under a divided government. Early signs suggest a prolonged fight.

Source: Maryland faces big battle over partisan gerrymandering