By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services|Arizona Daily Star
A bid by Republicans to upend the state’s 30 legislative districts could be bolstered – thrown out of federal court – because of the actions of the U.S. Supreme Court.
In an order Monday, the three-judge panel hearing the challenge to the lines said it wants attorneys to tell it what effect last month’s ruling on the federal Voting Rights Act has on the case. The high court concluded the formula used to require Arizona and other states to get federal “preclearance” of voting law changes – including redistricting lines – is illegal.
That could prove significant.
Attorneys for the Independent Redistricting Commission have conceded the 30 districts it drew do not have equal population, but argued the variances were necessary to make sure there were enough districts where minority voters had the chance of electing someone of their choice.
