RALEIGH – A pair of lawsuits challenging North Carolina’s new Republican-penned boundaries for congressional and legislative seats can move forward, a three-judge panel said Monday.
The Superior Court judges refused to dismiss the lawsuits, and it threw out less than half of the 37 claims offered by attorneys for Democratic elected officials, civil rights and election watchdog groups and voters from about 200 pages filed in November. Lawyers for the state and legislative leaders had wanted the lawsuits themselves thrown out.
The crux of the argument within the consolidated lawsuits remains intact. Plaintiffs claim state or federal constitutions prohibit mapmakers from splitting voting precincts excessively, creating boundaries that fracture too many counties and gerrymandering based predominantly on racial considerations.
Although the maps for the House and Senate and the state’s congressional delegation will still be used for this year’s May primary, the ruling means a significant portion of the case can move along to trial in the months ahead.
How have the new maps affected you? What congressional district do you live in? Do you know who is running? Join the conversation with other NC Tea Partier’s on Facebook.
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