Washington, D.C. — Center for American Progress President and CEO Neera Tanden released the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in Evenwel v. Abbott, which upholds long-held precedent on who is counted in the drawing of congressional and legislative districts:
In yesterday’s unanimous 8-0 ruling, the Supreme Court affirmed what we already knew—that “constitutional history, precedent, and practice” make clear that congressional and legislative districts should continue to be drawn based on the concept of “one person, one vote.” In doing so, the Court has upheld a key component of how our democracy functions, ensuring all people, including 75 million children and 11 million unauthorized immigrants, are counted and representation is accurate.
We applaud the Supreme Court for doing the right thing but again note that only eight justices ruled on this case. It is time that the Senate recognized the crucial importance of the Court, especially on cases that deal with equal representation such as Evenwel, by doing their jobs and considering the nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Benton Strong at 202.481.8142 or [email protected].
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