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Feds Approve NC Voting Districts
Special Report - November 2, 2011
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) gave pre-clearance to North Carolina’s proposed new voting districts. The districts had to be redrawn to reflect population shifts as determined by the 2010 census. The General Assembly approved new State Senate, State House, and Congressional districts this summer. North Carolina’s Attorney General filed the maps with DOJ in early September for approval. The 1965 Voting Rights Act mandates federal approval or “preclearance” in order for maps to be used. Forty of North Carolina’s counties are subject to Section 5 of the Act, which requires lawmakers to take minority representation into account and avoid discrimination when drawing districts composed of those counties. According to the chairman of the legislative Redistricting committee charged with drafting the maps, “[t]his is the first time in 30 years all three plans have been pre-cleared by the Justice Department during the initial 60-day review period.”
With DOJ’s pre-clearance, the maps can go into effect immediately as long as no legal challenges are filed. According to the Raleigh News & Observer, the North Carolina Democratic Party and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice are two groups that have declared intentions to sue over the maps.
In a joint statement, Senator Bob Rucho (R–Mecklenburg) and Representative David Lewis (R–Harnett), who co-chaired the North Carolina General Assembly’s Redistricting committee that was charged with drafting the maps, commented that DOJ’s approval of North Carolina’s redistricting maps confirms that “these are fair and legal maps that give a strong voice to all voters.”
Related resources:
New District Maps Go To Feds - September 6, 2011
GA Finalizes New Maps - August 3, 2011
Redistricting Special Session Begins - July 13, 2011
New District Maps Unveiled - July 12, 2011
Copyright © 2012. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.
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