Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the independent state legislature theory, ruling that state legislatures remain subject to judicial review by state courts when they set rules for federal elections and gerrymander districts. In response, Michael Sozan, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This ruling fully rejects a reckless and discredited theory that would have upended our democratic system of checks and balances. Adopting this fringe theory would have taken a sledgehammer to our system of free and fair elections, empowering partisan state legislatures to manipulate our elections by drawing gerrymandered maps, suppressing voters of color, and subverting elections—without regard to state courts or constitutions. We must ensure that politicians aren’t manipulating maps and election results to achieve their extremist policy agendas.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].