Are you confused about the NC redistricting maps? When is the Congressional Primary? Who represents me now?
This is what I keep hearing, hence this post. Sadly, I don’t think it will help much and might change yet again.
Here’s the latest from the NCGA on the rules applying to the Congressional primary as passed yesterday.
Key points of H2:
- “the 2016 U.S. House of Representatives primary election shall be 11 held on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.”
- “No Run for Two Separate Offices at the Same Time – A candidate 22 who is certified as the winner of a primary election on March 15 and certified as the winner of a 23 primary election on June 7 shall withdraw the notice of candidacy for one of those races no later 24 than one week after the certification of both primary election results…”
- “No Second Primary. – Notwithstanding G.S. 163-111, the results of all 2016 primary elections shall be determined by a plurality, and no second primaries shall be held during the 2016 election cycle”
So to summarize, the Congressional races will have their Primary June 7th and there will be no run off. Also, if someone wins and is running in a second race, they have to withdraw from the second race.
Now, this is only if the maps remain unchanged because the plaintiffs and NCGA Democrats are now saying the maps don’t include race enough.
The plaintiffs now argue that the newly drawn maps, passed into law last week by the General Assembly, are “no more appropriate than the version struck down” by the court.
They proposed a schedule for the court to review the new maps, which included court hearings on March 11 and a final decision by the court no later than March 18. They also suggested judges draw their own map if they don’t like the new boundaries.
The legislature has proposed that candidate filing under the new maps begin March 16.
Osteen on Tuesday gave defendants until March 7 to file a response to plaintiffs’ objections. Plaintiffs have until March 9 to reply.
The judge said in his order that any requests for more time would be “viewed with disfavor.” (News and Record 2/23/16)
Here is the latest passed version from the NCGA on the redistricting. It’s a long list of the changes to the Congressional districts.
I’ve compiled a bit of a timeline below to help people understand how we got to where we are today. It includes both the Voter ID and the Redistricting issues. I consider them linked, given the plaintiffs are some of the same groups (NC NAACP, League of Women voters).
If I’ve left something out or gotten something wrong – which I am sure I did since there is a ton of filings, rulings etc., feel free to email me.
McGuire Woods Consulting has an overview of what this process of redistricting entails and includes a redistricting history section. This overview includes a link to the new map.
Moritz College of Law has an extensive list of documents, filings and status updates for the Voter ID suit over HB 589.
Voter ID / Redistricting Timeline:
2013: Voter ID legislation comes forward (HB 589) public support is 72% in favor.
August 2013: Governor McCrory signs off on HB 589.
September 2013: At the request of former Senator Kay Hagan, Eric Holder’s DOJ files suit against NC voter ID law, claiming that the state’s statute violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) . Holder’s suit also said it would seek to have the state subject to federal pre-clearance before making “future voting-related changes.”
October 2013: Harris v. McCrory filed
July 2014: Evidentiary hearings
August 2o14: Judge Schroeder denies a preliminary injunction request by the NC NAACP ad others.
August 2014: DOJ loses it’s case against the NC Voter ID law.
October 2014: Judge Schroeder reverses course after the 4th circuit rules he ‘abused his discretion’ by denying the earlier request for a preliminary injunction. This injuction is granted on two of the provisions; prohibition of same-day voter registration and prohibition out-of-precinct voting.
December 2014: NC Supreme court upholds redistricting maps.
June 2015: NC General Assembly basically kills their own voter ID bill just weeks before the Federal Trial in Greensboro is to start. (Senate approve 44-2, House 104-3)
The new language makes use of the “reasonable impediment declaration” on why a voter has no ID. Voters could claim up to 8 different reasons: lack of transportation, disability/illness, lost/stolen photo ID, or a lack of a birth certificate and/or other documents used to obtain a photo ID. In other words, you could say just about anything.
January 15, 2016: Judge Schroeder ruled that Voter ID requirement stands for March 15th Primary. Schroeder ruled that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the photo ID requirement would place an undue burdens on minorities.
February 4, 2015: Judge Schroeder finds the two objections to the Magistrate order on November 20, 2014 are overruled. (League of Women Voters et al)
April 2015: US Supreme Court orders NC to take another look at the Redistricting maps.
December 2015: NC Supreme Court upholds Redistricting maps for a second time.
January 25, 2016: Voter ID case heads to trial.
February 2, 2016: Emergency Stay filed with Supreme Court.
February 5, 2016: Federal District court rules Congressional Districts 1 and 12 are unconstitutional. Two weeks are given for redrawing the districts with a proposed end date of February 19th.
February 22, 2016: Remedial Redistricting plan schedule ordered.
February 2016: Supreme Court will not intervene. Lower court ruling stands and the maps must be redrawn.
LL1885 