The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 6, 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.
A North Florida Congressional district map pushed by Governor Ron DeSantis which diluted Black voting power, was upheld by a Florida appeals court December 1st. The 10-judge panel ruled that plaintiffs didn’t prove the map violated Florida’s constitutional amendment prohibiting racial gerrymandering.
The new map was manipulated to spread the former Congressional District 5’s Black voters among four separate districts, keeping three-term Congressman Al Lawson from being re-elected, and Black voters in North Florida from electing the candidate of their choice. Republicans argue that the larger former district was not geographically compact and constituents didn’t have common interests.
In 2010, Florida voters passed constitutional amendments intended to require fairness in redistricting, including for minority citizens. In part, it reads: “Districts shall not be drawn to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice.”
Then Gov. Rick Scott slow-walked implementation, and courts ultimately drew the maps in 2015. After the 2022 Florida House Redistricting Commission’s maps were seen as too competitive by Governor Ron DeSantis, he vetoed the legislature’s final version, and strong-armed his own Congressional map into place.
Democracy groups have already filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. A decision is expected by March.
We have more on District 5 and the groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Common Cause – The Florida Fair Districts Amendments
Florida Phoenix – State appeals court upholds diminishment of Black voting strength in North Florida
Democracy Docket – Florida Appeals Court Keeps DeSantis’ Discriminatory Congressional Map In Place
WUSF/News Service of Florida – DeSantis’ congressional redistricting plan is going before the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Div. of Elections – STANDARDS FOR LEGISLATURE TO FOLLOW IN LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING
FiveThirtyEight – Florida’s Redistricting Maps
Princeton Gerrymandering Project – Florida Redistricting Report Card (F)
Groups Taking Action:
Black Voters Matter, Common Cause Florida, League of Women Voters of Florida, Equal Ground Education Fund, Florida Rising Together
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #FairMaps #FloridaPolitics #EndGerrymandering