Judges Make a Rush Request for Redistricting Maps
Federal redistricting judges in San Antonio want to see if they can get agreement from the parties on political maps in time for an April 3 primary and said they are "giving serious consideration" to split primaries if no agreement can be reached by the first week of February.
The three federal judges said in an order issued this afternoon that they will meet with the parties on Friday instead of waiting until Feb. 1.
The five-page order is full of dates and deadlines:
- The judges say they will almost certainly move a candidate filing deadline now set for Feb ...
Comments (10)
Tom Walker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This is a responsible move not to delay this any further.
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I would think the plaintiffs- who are the ones responsible for the delay- would be held liable for any additional costs, not the state.
namoyer
If the GOP wants their Prez primary early, with their poster boy Mofo Perry out now, go right ahead, but TX GOP pays for all of it! With 4 new CDs jammed in, and some pretty major gerrymanding of many others (ck out the GOP's slice and dice of Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi), just don't know if these 3 judges were thinking clearly with this request. If the SA judges are all wobbly-kneed, then wait for the DC court ruling. Hell, primaries during full sweat season will separate the players from the posers.
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Bozos musta been out last night celebrating Chinese New Years; still drunk when they wrote this nonsense...
Bill Eaves via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No
Debbie Spencer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It shouldn't be that difficult to draw up these maps. It may sound simplistic, but why not just put a grid over a map? Stop the non-sense of trying to guarantee any group or party representation by district. This is how the gerrymandering happened. If we are supposed to be equal, then equal sized grids should suffice.
Emily Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Because the map must uphold the principle of one person, one vote. And a sheet of graph paper does not accomplish the constitutional requirements.
hans5162@ix.netcom.com hans
The legislature and Greg Abbott pretty much screwed the pooch on this one.
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So, no sheet!
jimrtex
It is disingenuous to speak of a "split" or "unified" primary. The politicians and judges have adopted this terminology in order to attempt to force use of their preferred map by presenting an artificial dilemma.
The problem is that when they presented their case to the Supreme Court they had to present it as a process issue, that the SA court had or had not proceeded in the proper manner in drawing an interim map. Only Justice Breyer was gullible enough to believe that the SA court had used neutral districting principles, while only Justice Thomas believes that Section 5 is unconstitutional and thus there was no reason for the SA court to draw an interim map. Everyone else agreed that a more complete process was needed. Now that it is back in their lap, the SA called the political parties on their bluff. In essence telling them if they can agree on a map by February 6, the "unified" primary can go on.
There are only 3 races involved, those for congress, and 2 for the legislature. Meanwhile there are 10 statewide races, SBOE races in all districts, numerous appellate court races, district judicial races, over 500 county commissioner races, plus 100s of other county, and county precinct offices.
Moreover, a large share of the 434 congressional and legislative races are uncontested. 36% have NO candidates and thus would not appear on any primary ballot. Another 42% have only 1 candidate, and could be excluded from a primary ballot. So only 22% of races have two or more candidates. There are large areas of the state where one or the other ourt parties will have NO contested legislative or congressional primaries.
So the solution is not to "split" the primary, but simply to leave the congressional and legislative races (at most 3 races on any ballot) off the April 3 ballot.