Morrisville, N.C. (1/11/2021) – Today, a panel of judges ruled to uphold North Carolina lawmakers’ redistricting maps that were created to give themselves a partisan advantage in future elections.
Cheryl Carter, Interim Co-Executive Director for Democracy North Carolina, issued the following statement in response to the verdict:
“This redistricting process was yet another part of a clear pattern that has revealed itself in recent years – a series of anti-voter measures aimed at diluting the votes of people of color and eroding Black representation across the state.
Last fall, we watched as North Carolina lawmakers pushed through partisan, racially gerrymandered maps that would give overwhelming favorability to Republican candidates and shuffle incumbents – mostly Black, Brown, and women – out of their districts. These maps followed a process without transparency, public education or engagement, and with a complete disregard for input from the communities directly impacted by the process. At the very least, lawmakers were not concerned the public couldn’t access or understand the maps without proper analysis and public education. At the worst, they intentionally muddied the process, making it so confusing and complex that North Carolinians wouldn’t know what had happened until it was too late.
They claimed it was the ‘most transparent process in the history of North Carolina.’ We knew that was false in the autumn, and had hoped the courts would agree. Lawmakers shut North Carolinians out of redistricting, a process that will affect each and every single person in this state, and shut them out of the conversation, all for their own gain.
Given all we have seen, today’s outcome is disappointing but we remain hopeful that the state Supreme Court will recognize that we must do better, and we must expect and demand more from those elected to lead our state.”
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Democracy North Carolina is a nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to strengthen democratic structures, build power among disenfranchised communities, and inspire confidence in a transformed political process that works for all.