Today’s Links
Articles:
NPR – How the Supreme Court could radically reshape elections for president and Congress
Associated Press – Supreme Court to hear case on state authority over elections
Politico – Supreme Court to hear case on GOP ‘independent legislature’ theory that could radically reshape elections
Groups Taking Action – Common Cause North Carolina, Common Cause, Declaration for American Democracy, Democracy Docket
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
While you were getting ready for the July 4th weekend, four members of the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to Thursday hear a case from North Carolina which could explore the “independent state legislature” theory. It’s not an overstatement to say that If the high court agrees, it could have a profound negative impact on your right to vote and have it matter.
North Carolina’s legislature approved a gerrymandered Congressional map which was manipulated to cement 10 of its 14 Congressional districts for Republicans. The state supreme court threw out the map, a new fairer map was drawn and the new map will be in effect for the 2022 midterm election.
The Republican-dominated state legislature filed suit, and argues in Moore vs. Harper that the U.S. Constitution’s election clause overrides any protections in state constitutions or state courts, and allows state legislatures to control all aspects of elections.
But this new case is not JUST about redistricting. It could allow extremist legislatures to target communities of color and other voting blocks they don’t like with even more draconian barriers to voting, and those voters would have no federal protections. In addition, scholars say this could also foreshadow a post-election manipulation of Presidential electors by legislatures, essentially overriding the vote of the people. Other observers suggest it could require two ballots, one state and one federal, with different rules to qualify and vote for each.
Protection of the vote is paramount to our democracy, and alarmed pro-voter groups will be mobilizing on this topic. We have links to articles and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.