Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that it has no authority to decide whether state lawmakers violate the U.S. Constitution when they redraw electoral maps for the express purpose of keeping one party in power. In response, Sam Berger, vice president of Democracy and Government Reform at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Today, the Supreme Court failed to set a reasonable standard to protect American democracy from extreme partisan gerrymandering. Allowing lawmakers to choose their voters, rather than ensuring that the voters choose them, results in noncompetitive elections that do not represent the views of the American people. It is now up to Congress and state legislatures to take on partisan gerrymandering, such as by establishing independent redistricting commissions and requiring them to draw districts that best represent the will of the people.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected] or 202-478-6327.