Quiet on Gerrymandering?
Photo of Sen. Norm Stone and Howie
“Free and fair elections are the very foundation of American democracy and the most basic promise that those in power can pledge to citizens. We must come together to rebuild a democracy where voters pick their elected representatives – not the other way around,” said Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on November 24, 2019.
Some of you know I have been an Anti-Gerrymanderer since 1972, but you might be concerned about my quietness since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Moore v. Harper case on June 27.
Well, I am limited to the partisan gerrymandering on congressional districts, but I am handed off on the racial gerrymandering.
Why on the latter? A racial gerrymander is a legal claim under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Therefore, it is suggested that the U. S. Supreme Court address these legal problems.
There are no federal laws or similar dealing with partisan gerrymandering. Despite my age, I am still continuing to push for federal legislation.
The following states have to redraw boundaries during 2023 for the 2024 election cycle to allow candidates to file: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin. (Ohio has to redraw lines for the 2026 cycle.)
As a result of the 2019 decision in Rucho v. Common Cause, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that partisan gerrymandering represents a political question that federal courts cannot police and that state courts could use state constitutions to police it because they raise political, not judicial questions.
Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Moore v. Harper that it rejected the so-called independent state legislature theory. It ensured that state courts, state law, and state constitutions remained a viable check on legislatures’ intent on the redistricting process.
THEREFORE, I, as a firm believer in individual rights, feel these problems are up to the people residing in their states.
I appreciate your understanding.
“I’ve been fighting for Fair Maps with LWVMD since 2015 because I see gerrymandering for what it is – voter suppression. It is essential that we repair redistricting processes in Maryland and throughout the nation to ensure the voices of the people are heard and confidence in our democracy can be restored. Politicians are supposed to listen to their constituents and trust that the people know which policies and politicians will best serve their needs. Gerrymandering tells voters that politicians don’t trust the people to make their own decisions – and that is in direct contradiction with our country’s democratic principles,” said Ashley Oleson, Former Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Maryland, on November 6, 2019.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Addition:
Finally, I found this photo in my storage yesterday, so I inserted it while re-editing my December 19 issue, “Maryland State Senator Norm R. Stone, Jr.”
