Voting rights watchdogs fear that redistricting data delays could allow political mapmakers to stray into racial gerrymandering
Texas and eight other states will have their freest hand in decades to draw congressional and legislative maps this cycle, no longer required to submit their maps for federal review because of repeated discrimination claims.
Advocates worry, however, that the late delivery of census redistricting data may hamper their efforts to serve as watchdogs on the process and cry foul if mapmakers stray into racial gerrymandering.
Texas and other states no longer have to run their legislative maps past the Justice Department under the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act, after a Supreme Court decision found the process unconstitutional. Continue reading.