Appeals court reinstates Florida election law criticized as Black voter suppression
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a ruling by North Florida’s Chief U.S. District Judge, thus reinstating a 2021 election law that voting rights advocates have called racially discriminatory. Citing a legal precedent known as “The Purcell principle,” the 11th Circuit ruled that the upcoming Florida primaries are too soon to make a drastic change to state election laws at this time. The 11th Circuit, which is known to be one of the more conservative of the federal appellate courts, also commented
New York’s top court rejects congressional maps drawn by Democrats
The New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, has ordered that congressional election maps be rewritten by a court-appointed authority. The decision comes as a state primary scheduled for June 28th approaches, and the court has said that it may be necessary to delay the election until August. The court agreed with an argument made on behalf of Republican politicians and voters that the New York State Legislature had unconstitutionally gerrymandered districts in order to favor the Democratic party. The state legislature
ACLU, voting-rights groups ask Ohio Supreme court to force redistricting commission to meet amid GOP stalling
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is attempting to persuade the Ohio Supreme Court to require the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission to return to work on new election maps. The ACLU has expressed the fear that Republican members of the commission are attempting to “run out the clock,” because federal judges have declared that they will require the state to proceed with election maps that the state courts rejected as discriminatory and unconstitutional if no new maps are agreed to by the commission before
Suit: Mississippi high court districts dilute Black voter strength
Several civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center, have filed a suit on behalf of Black citizens of Mississippi, arguing that the state government needs to redraw its election maps for the state’s supreme court justices. Currently, Mississippi's supreme court justices stand for election in three districts, but only one of the nine justices is Black, and Black Americans make up 38% of the state’s population. Visit NBC News to learn moreImage Credit: formulanone(CC BY-SA 2.0)
Voting rights groups seek injunction against Florida congressional redistricting plan
Several voting rights advocacy organizations have filed for a temporary injunction against a portion of Florida’s newly drawn Congressional elections map. The temporary injunction is sought in order to maintain the integrity of District 5 for the August 23rd primaries. The sprawling district currently encompasses several Black communities and is represented by a Black Member of Congress. Voting rights organizations argue that dissolving this constituency violates the Fair Districting Amendment in the state’s own constitution. Visit the Tampa Bay Times to learn moreImage Credit: DonkeyHotey(CC