A panel of judges ruled Tuesday that North Carolina’s political maps — which were drawn to be used in state legislative and congressional districts for the remainder of the decade — are constitutional.
The ruling was unanimous, though the panel is made up of two Republicans and one Democrat.
“This Court neither condones the enacted maps nor their anticipated potential results,” the judges wrote in the ruling. “Despite our disdain for having to deal with issues that potentially lead to results incompatible with democratic principles and subject our state to ridicule, the Court must remind itself that these maps are the result of a democratic process.”
For more North Carolina government and politics news, listen to the Under the Dome politics podcast from The News & Observer and the NC Insider. You can find it at link.chtbl.com/underthedomenc or wherever you get your podcasts.
Monster, Part 1: So you want to make a map... In the first episode of this special Under the Dome series, we explore the rules of redistricting – the drawing of new electoral maps. Those rules often conflict, and that friction is a prime reason why North Carolina sits center stage during battles over gerrymandering.
Monster, Part 2: What gerrymandering isn't In the second episode of this special Under the Dome series, we examine why defining gerrymandering is harder than it appears. Bizarre shapes don’t always translate to political shenanigans. And some of our own choices – about who we are and where we live – complicate the picture.
Monster, Part 3: Math on the front lines In the third episode, we dive deep into the mathematics that could be the key to quantifying and fighting gerrymandering. Some of that math dates back to secret U.S. atomic bomb labs. And although complex, its inner workings are built on some familiar ideas.
Monster, Part 4: All eyes on Raleigh In the fourth episode of this special Under the Dome series, we unravel the politics of mapmaking today, the potential for reform and how the choices state legislators make will impact the legal fight over district lines for years.
Lucille Sherman is a state politics reporter for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. She previously worked as a national data and investigations reporter for Gannett. Using the secure, encrypted Signal app, you can reach Lucille at 405-471-7979.
