On June 6, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Bethune-Hill v Virginia State Board of Elections, 15-680. The issue is whether Virginia’s state house redistricting plan is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Plaintiffs argue that the legislature squeezed as many blacks into a small number of state house districts, so as to minimize their impact on a larger number of districts. The lower court had upheld the plan 2-1.
If the U.S. Supreme Court invalidates the existing districts, there would be no impact this calendar year, because Virginia legislative elections are in odd years.
The 15th Amdt (a) was obviously derived from 14th Amdt, Sec. 2 and (b) is ONLY about the definition of Elector-Voter in negative language (i.e. race, etc.) NOT a disqualification to be such an Elector-Voter).
The Elephants had a total panic after the Nov. 1868 CLOSE election of Prez Grant — many NORTHERN States barely elected him.
Thus the 15th Amdt language in Jan-Feb 1869 — trying to get the many ex-Union Army/Navy black men in the Civil War to be Elephant voters.
Gerrymander stuff is a blatant violation of the Republican Form of Govt in Art. IV, Sec. 4 —
NO monarchy/oligarchy MINORITY RULE regimes allowed in any State.
ALL gerrymanders — 1/2 or less votes x 1/2 districts = 1/4 or less CONTROL = minority rule oligarchy regimes.
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P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.