In a controversial move, the Texas Legislature voted to change quorum rules and pass a new congressional map creating five additional safe Republican seats without Democratic members present. The legislature modified procedural rules to allow passage despite the absence of Democratic lawmakers, who …
Texas LegislatureTexas RepublicansGreg AbbottTexas House DemocratsTodd Hunterredistrictinggerrymanderingquorum-violationconstitutional-crisiselectoral-manipulation+2 more
The Supreme Court rules 5-4 in Rucho v. Common Cause that partisan gerrymandering claims present “political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts,” effectively eliminating federal judicial oversight of even extreme partisan redistricting. The decision gives state legislatures …
Michigan voters approve Proposal 2 with 61% support, amending the state constitution to create an independent redistricting commission that removes politicians from the line-drawing process. The grassroots “Voters Not Politicians” initiative directly responds to Michigan’s status …
Voters Not PoliticiansMichigan votersgerrymanderingmichigandirect-democracyvoting-rightsballot-initiative
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules that the state’s 2011 congressional map violates the Pennsylvania Constitution’s guarantee that “elections shall be free and equal,” striking down one of the nation’s most extreme partisan gerrymanders. The court finds that …
Pennsylvania Supreme CourtLeague of Women VotersPennsylvania General Assemblygerrymanderingpennsylvaniastate-courtsvoting-rightsredmap
Federal courts strike down North Carolina’s 2011 legislative redistricting as unconstitutional racial gerrymandering, finding that Republican lawmakers illegally packed African American voters into 28 districts. In response, the Republican-controlled legislature redraws the maps with explicit …
North Carolina General AssemblyDavid LewisRobert RuchoRepublican Partygerrymanderingracial-discriminationnorth-carolinavoting-rightsrepublican-party
A federal court rules that the Texas Legislature’s 2011 redistricting plan for congressional districts discriminated against Latino voters in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. The decision finds that Texas deliberately carved up Latino communities and …
In the 2012 congressional elections, North Carolina Democratic candidates receive over 50% of the statewide popular vote but win only 4 of the state’s 13 congressional seats—a stark demonstration of how the Republican-drawn maps from 2011 effectively nullify voter preferences. The results …
Democratic PartyRepublican PartyNorth Carolina General Assemblygerrymanderingelectoral-manipulationnorth-carolinaredmapvoter-suppression
Wisconsin Republicans pass 2011 Wisconsin Act 43, implementing extreme partisan gerrymandering through an unprecedented secret process. The redistricting plan, drawn behind closed doors at a private law firm with rank-and-file Republican legislators required to sign confidentiality agreements, …
Wisconsin LegislatureRepublican PartyMichael Best & Friedrichgerrymanderingwisconsinrepublican-partyelectoral-manipulationredmap+1 more
Republicans achieve historic state legislative gains in the 2010 midterm elections, flipping a net 680 state legislative seats—breaking the previous record of 628 seats set by Democrats in the post-Watergate elections of 1974. The gains give Republicans control of redistricting in key states ahead …
Republican State Leadership CommitteeRepublican Partygerrymanderingelectoral-manipulationrepublican-partyredmapstate-legislatures