The U.S. Supreme Court will hold oral arguments on December 8, Tuesday, in two redistricting cases. One is Harris v Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, 14-232. Arizona Republicans filed this lawsuit to overturn the 2011 state legislative redistricting plan. The party argues that the plan violates one-person, one-vote by creating districts with two many voters in Republican areas, and two few voters in Democratic areas. The party also argues that the Commission handled ethnic minorities improperly. The lower court had upheld the plan.
The other case being heard on December 8 is Evenwel v Abbott, 14-940. Some Texas voters filed this case, arguing that legislative and U.S. House districts should have equal numbers of eligible voters, not equal populations. Texas, like almost all states, uses population. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the news about Evenwel.
The discrepancy is more than two.
When Arizona adopted its redistricting standards, one argument made was that legislative districts would be required to be as equal in population as congressional districts. Colleen Mathis ignored the Arizona Constitution.
Evenwel will be heard on December 8.
Thank you, Jim. I just now fixed that.