The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 29, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
The New Mexico Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling on Nov. 27th, allowing the state’s Congressional districts to stand. The same day, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld gerrymandered state legislature maps which had been previously struck down by the same court.
Ohio’s maps ping-ponged between its partisan Redistricting Commission, the Ohio Supreme Court, and its legislature. The Ohio constitution has a provision prohibiting partisan gerrymandering, so in 2021 & 2022, the court rejected the state house maps five times. But the retirement of a liberal justice and the appointment of a conservative replacement, shifted the balance of power.
In a 4-3 decision, Ohio’s high court affirmed maps vehemently opposed by democracy groups. The court cited bipartisan support for the maps, but the Ohio Capital Journal reports two Democrats supporting the maps said their vote was intended to keep the map drawing away from the partisan redistricting commission. A ballot measure for an independent commission is proposed for next year.
The New Mexico Supreme court upheld a lower court which found the state had not broken rules prohibiting partisan gerrymandering when it drew its Congressional districts. Map changes in the 2nd Congressional district resulted in a 4% shift, flipping the seat Democratic by less than 1%, according to the New Mexico Political Report.
We have links to local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio Redistricting Commission adopts sixth version of Statehouse maps with bipartisan support
Ohio Capital Journal – Ohio Supreme Court dismisses redistricting challenge, leaving Statehouse maps in place
Ohio Supreme Court – LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF OHIO ET AL. v. OHIO REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION ET AL.
Ohio Capital Journal – (Commentary) Misrepresentative lawmaking will continue in Ohio until voters have fair maps
NM Political Report – State supreme court upholds congressional map
KRQE 13 – New Mexico Supreme Court agrees with lower court: no ‘egregious’ gerrymandering
New Mexico Citizen Redistricting Committee – CRC’s Final Report on Adopted Maps and Evaluations
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters OH, Ohio Organizing Collaborative, Citizens Not Politicians, Fair Districts Ohio,
Represent.Us New Mexico
Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email? Sign up here!
#Democracy #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers