Legislators go back to the redrawing board

[caption id="attachment_12925" align="alignleft" width="150"] Map courtesy Politics NC[/caption]

Editorial by Rocky Mount Telegram, April 22, 2015.

Well, let’s revisit redistricting one more time.

It’s a familiar subject to North Carolina legislators of all political stripes. Republicans filed challenge after challenge to redistricting plans drawn up by Democrats, who held most of the power in the N.C. General Assembly for decades. Now, with the GOP firmly entrenched in the N.C. House, N.C. Senate and the Governor’s mansion, Democrats are fighting redistricting maps designed largely to keep Republicans in charge.

It’s a political process by nature, one that does little to serve the interests of North Carolina voters. And this week, the U.S. Supreme Court gave lawmakers a nudge. In a brief order, the court told the N.C. Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling in favor of current congressional and legislative districts. The order comes on the footsteps of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month that struck down a similar plan in Alabama.

Republicans packed three congressional districts in North Carolina with black voters, many of whom vote Democratic in elections. In doing so, the legislature stacked the other 10 congressional districts in favor of Republicans, thus smoothing the way for a 10-3 political advantage in North Carolina’s congressional delegation.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling says Alabama went too far by making race the predominant factor in its redistricting strategy. It ordered a lower court to review and correct the plans. North Carolina’s maps might the next to be struck down.

With that in mind, the General Assembly might find itself in special session later this year to redraw districts in time for the 2016 elections. There is little doubt that Republicans will look for ways to satisfy the Supreme Court – and, of course, retain their power.

http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/opinion/our-views/legislators-go-back-redrawing-board-2856817