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Showing Original Post only (View all)Justices rule 5-4 that independent panels can draw election district lines [View all]
Source: Washington Post
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Monday that independent commissions may draw electoral district lines.
The case arose after Arizona voters opposed to congressional gerrymandering had taken the power away from state legislators.
The Supreme Court has largely stayed out of partisan gerrymandering cases, unable to agree on a test that would allow the court to discern when expected political maneuvering rises to the level of being unconstitutional.
Arizona voters tried to take care of the problems themselves in 2000, when they turned over redistricting to an independent commission. But Republicans who control the legislature say the Constitution gives them the right draw congressional districts, and they cannot be cut out of the power.
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Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/justices-rule-5-4-that-independent-panels-can-draw-election-district-lines/2015/06/29/c91269aa-1ae6-11e5-ab92-c75ae6ab94b5_story.html
By Robert Barnes June 29 at 10:33 AM