What is gerrymandering? Here's a deeper look at the controversies of redistricting, voters' impact
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A political battle is shaping up in North Carolina, while a Supreme Court case in the nation's capital could have a major effect on voters across the U.S., including in the Tar Heel State
Texas and California have already sought to influence the balance of power in Congress through redistricting efforts aimed at favoring Republicans or Democrats
Texas is a red state, and California is a blue state. North Carolina is considered a deep shade of purple.
The Supreme Court is reviewing a significant Republican-led challenge to the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana. This case could undermine a central provision of the landmark Civil Rights Movement legislation, which prohibits racial discrimination in redistricting.
The 1965 Voting Rights Act prohibits gerrymandering based on race, ensuring that redistricting does not discriminate against voters of color.
"This idea that, particularly in southern states like North Carolina, but other southern states, that basic principle of one person, one vote was being basically ignored. And so the Voting Rights Act was a way to guarantee that Black voters in particular couldn't be marginalized," David McClennan, a Political Scientist at Meredith University in Raleigh, said.
What is gerrymandering?
Looking at the diagram, you have 20 purple voters and 30 orange voters.
If you cut it up evenly, you would have five majority Orange districts and zero purple districts.
However, by redrawing the lines as shown on the far right, purple voters could secure a majority despite being outnumbered.
This is gerrymandering, which is legal if based on politics but illegal if based on race.
McClennan says, "Gerrymandering is a powerful tool, and again in North Carolina, it gives much more power to the Republicans than they would otherwise have."
NC Republican lawmakers plan to redraw the state's districts, again, which could add more Republican members of Congress.
Democrats aim to demonstrate that the redistricting is racially motivated and violates the law. For the courts to rule it illegal, they must agree that race was a factor.
North Carolina New Congressional Maps
Thursday, House and Senate leaders released copies of the new proposed Congressional map.
On Wednesday, a redistricting committee.
