redistricting
June 28, 2019 -
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to address partisan gerrymandering, North Carolina courts this summer could decide if the extreme partisan manipulation of legislative districts violates the state constitution. Files that belonged to a deceased redistricting guru could shed light on the process, but the parties to the lawsuit are arguing over access to them.
June 21, 2019 -
Emails from the Texas Department of Public Safety show that Gov. Greg Abbott requested a purge of more than 90,000 eligible citizens from the voting rolls. It fits with Abbott's pattern of embracing discriminatory voting policies.
June 12, 2019 -
New evidence from the files of a dead North Carolina gerrymandering expert reveals the Trump administration pushed for the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census to benefit the Republican Party. But the question could lead to an undercount, which would diminish the South's electoral power and cheat it of its fair share of federal funds.
February 21, 2019 -
Cheri Beasley will soon be sworn in as chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, becoming the first black woman to lead the court. She brings much-needed diversity to the South's appellate courts, which are overwhelmingly white and male.
February 15, 2019 -
Southern states are projected to gain up to four congressional seats and Electoral College votes after next year's census. But some Southern states are at risk of losing representation, and census undercounts could dilute the power of African-American and Latino communities.
November 30, 2018 -
When Southern legislatures gavel into session in 2019, Republicans will still enjoy majority control in all of the South's upper and lower chambers. But for Southern Republicans, there is cause for concern: Since the election of President Trump, Democrats have gained ground in key Southern states.
November 16, 2018 -
Republican-drawn congressional maps dramatically undercut Democratic candidates' ability to win in Southern states in 2018.