RALEIGH, N.C. — Federal judge James Dever III declined to block North Carolina’s redistricting of the senate map in January. The lawsuit claims the maps are discriminatory toward Black voters. The judge said the plaintiffs did not have enough evidence and would cause voter confusion in the upcoming election.
The lawsuit focuses on three Congressional districts that are majority Republican; Districts 6, 13, and 14.
Senate maps are redrawn every 10 years to reflect the changes of the population according to the census. The boundaries of the congressional and state legislative maps ensure that bigger and smaller populations across the state have about the same amount of power. The redrawing of districts have become a tool for politicians to give an advantage their political party in elections.
This is a win for state Republicans who are favored by the new senate maps. If the maps remain, it could impact the the power of voters in the 2024 election. Republicans will likely win 10 or 11 out of 14 Congressional seats because of the redrawn district boundaries. The case will continue once schedules are submitted by the courts.
Former NC State Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr also filed a lawsuit regarding the GOP-drawn maps.
“Stuffing districts with favorable voters to your side violates that right,” Orr said in an interview with WUNC.
Orr said the maps favor right-leaning candidates and goes against voters’ right to a free and fair election according to the state constitution.