Stennis Institute of Government

There is a new redistricting decision out from the Supreme Court of the United States from a North Carolina lawsuit.  The decision came down yesterday, and I have not had a chance to read it myself.  I will follow up with an analysis later, but I wanted to put the information out here immediately for those of you who may be dealing with redistricting issues or merely gearing up for 2011.

It appears that the Supreme Court has indicated that there is no duty to draw voting districts taht would elect black candidates in areas where blacks are less than a majority.  The decision was 5-4.  The Court said (Kennedy, J., writing the majority) that officials need not consider race when drawing districts for state legislatures, county boards, city councils and school districts, so long as blacks did not make up a voting majority in a particular area.  Justice Kennedy suggests that this decision could “hasten the waning of racism in American politics” by making race less of a factor in drawing electoral districts.  More later…