RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A significant political battle is shaping up in North Carolina, while a Supreme Court case in Washington, D.C., could have far-reaching effects on voters across the United States, including those in the Tar Heel State.
Texas and California have already attempted to influence the balance of power in Congress through redistricting efforts designed to favor Republicans or Democrats. Texas is widely recognized as a red state, and California is considered a blue state. North Carolina, however, is viewed as a deep shade of purple.
### Supreme Court Review of Voting Rights Act Challenge
The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a major Republican-led challenge to the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana. This case has the potential to undermine a critical provision of the landmark Civil Rights Movement legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in redistricting.
Enacted in 1965, the Voting Rights Act forbids gerrymandering based on race, ensuring that redistricting does not discriminate against voters of color.
David McClennan, a political scientist at Meredith University in Raleigh, explains,
*“This idea that, particularly in southern states like North Carolina, but other southern states as well, the basic principle of one person, one vote was being basically ignored. The Voting Rights Act was a way to guarantee that Black voters in particular couldn’t be marginalized.”*
### What Is Gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.
For example, consider a voting population with 20 purple voters and 30 orange voters. If the area is divided evenly, the result would be five majority orange districts and no purple districts. However, by redrawing the lines strategically, as illustrated in the diagram, purple voters could secure a majority in certain districts despite being outnumbered overall.
Gerrymandering is legal when based on political affiliation but illegal when based on race.
McClennan notes,
*“Gerrymandering is a powerful tool, and again in North Carolina, it gives much more power to the Republicans than they would otherwise have.”*
### North Carolina Redistricting Plans and Legal Challenges
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts once again, which could potentially increase the number of Republican members of Congress.
In response, Democrats aim to prove that the redistricting is racially motivated and therefore violates the law. For courts to rule the redistricting illegal, they must find clear evidence that race was a significant factor in the redistricting process.
### New Congressional Maps Released
On Thursday, North Carolina House and Senate leaders released copies of the new proposed congressional map, marking the next step in a contentious political and legal battle over representation in the state.
As the situation develops, voters and officials alike are closely watching how redistricting efforts and the Supreme Court ruling will shape future elections in North Carolina and beyond.
https://abc11.com/post/gerrymandering-nc-other-states-redistrict-congressional-maps-help-republicans-scotus-weigh-voting-rights-act-decision/18016215/
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