2016 elections would move forward under current maps. Justices found that 28 districts were the result of racial gerrymandering. All 120 House districts and all 50 Senate districts will have to be redrawn.
One big result if ruling stands is that the 2017 session, which starts in January, would be a redistricting session. Under today’s order, the General Assembly would be required to redraw the maps in the next session. Given the growth and the huge shift in NC’s demographics since 2010, which will still be the basis for the maps, that’s going to be an interesting process.
“Today’s federal ruling overturning North Carolina’s racially-gerrymandered legislative districts is a tremendous victory for our state’s voters and for everyone who values fair elections,” said Democracy North Carolina Executive Director Bob Hall. “With computerized precision, GOP lawmakers drew zig-zagging political district lines that separated black voters from white and other voters in order to prevent multi-racial fusion coalitions from electing candidates the Republicans feared. It’s essentially computerized apartheid. It’s also a cynical replay of a strategy from over a century ago that promotes racial division to protect white political supremacy.”
Hall added, “Regardless of political party, North Carolina can do better. It’s time for our state’s leaders to move beyond the nineteenth century.”
