The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 25, 2023
In Landmark Ruling, Alaska Supreme Court Rules that Gerrymandering is Unconstitutional
***Today’s Links now located below the script***
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled Friday, April 21st that partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional, invalidating the 2022 maps drawn from a redistricting commission which had strayed from its constitutional intent to be nonpartisan.
Alaska voters approved the 1998 constitutional amendment ballot measure creating a redistricting board by a 52% to 48% margin. The new board was to be staffed by two members appointed by the governor, and one each by the House speaker, Senate president, and chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
After two previous cases striking down gerrymandered state house & senate voting districts and forcing court-ordered interim maps for the 2022 midterms, for this case, the state justices delved into the history and the intentions of the original law. In the 144-page ruling, they concluded, “We expressly recognize that partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional under the Alaska Constitution.”
The Anchorage Daily News quotes Scott Kendall, attorney and chief of staff to former Gov. Bill Walker, as saying, “This is an incredibly important case. For the first time the Alaska Supreme Court has interpreted the equal protection doctrine to prohibit gerrymandering for partisan purposes. This decision will put vital sideboards on the redistricting process to prevent political abuse of the process in the future.”
The redistricting board was given 90 days to explain why the fairer court-ordered maps should not be used in 2032.
We have links to articles, the court’s decision, and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Anchorage Daily News – Alaska Supreme Court, in landmark ruling, says partisan gerrymandering violates state constitution
Alaska Redistricting Board – 2022 May Interim Proclamation Regional and by-District Maps
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA – Decision in the matter of the 2021 Redistricting Cases
BallotPedia – Redistricting in Alaska
BallotPedia – Alaska Reapportionment Board, Measure 3 (1998)
Groups Taking Action:
Alaska Center, Native American Rights Fund, League of Women Voters AK, Alaska PIRG
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