Hopeful developments in the effort to rein in gerrymandering

Progress in rooting out North Carolina’s gerrymandered voting districts hasn’t always occurred in a straight line. But the trend – thanks to federal judges honoring their duty to uphold the Constitution – bodes well for giving all voters an equal chance to help choose their leaders.

That’s the essence of a democratic system in which each of us, even those who lack the traditional means of influence such as money and connections, has a voice and thus a role in setting the course of government in line with our values and priorities.

The latest turn in the gerrymandering saga can be chalked up as a clear victory for advocates of fair elections.

A panel of three judges, sitting in federal District Court in Greensboro, last week followed through on its previous finding that voting districts drawn in 2011 by the Republican-controlled General Assembly for its own members unconstitutionally had devalued the voting strength of African-Americans.

Read more: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2018/01/23/hopeful-developments-effort-rein-gerrymandering/