Last summer, a panel of 3 Federal judges found that the Mississippi legislature drew voting districts that diluted Black voting strength and violated federal law. The Court ordered the legislature to create 3 additional districts, where Black voters could choose a candidate of their choice.
Lawmakers have had months to propose corrected maps and present them to the public—including the plaintiffs who had successfully challenged the old maps in court. That did not happen.
Today, the Mississippi House of Representatives, with very little notice, and without public viewing or input, passed new legislative maps.
Even once new maps are passed, they ultimately will have to be approved by the Court. The process of reshaping legislative districts—something affecting the democratic voice of every Mississippian—should be open and transparent.
Instead of a collaborative solution, the House is embarking on a costlier, more circuitous road that risks further litigation and Court intervention. All people in Mississippi deserve free, fair districts that meet the criteria of the Voting Rights Act and guarantee an equal voice in government.
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