by Lent C. Carr, II for Hoke County Commissioner 2022. Photo Attribution Credited to Emmaus Corp. Embassy Digital Media and Production Co.
BREAKING: Fantastic news for North Carolina voters and the health of our democracy -- the NC Supreme Court on Friday, 2/4/2022 struck down the legislative and congressional maps as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. The maps violate a voter's fundamental right to vote.
Under our constitution, political power must be “vested in and derived from the people” & our government must be “founded upon their will only." Our elected leaders flout that principle when they seek to perpetuate their power irrespective of the will of the voters.
Our government must be of, by, & for the people, not of, by, & for one political party. That's why the voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. Partisan gerrymandering is offensive to democracy; it's also contrary to our fundamental constitutional rights.
The Court wrote that redistricting plans shall adhere to traditional neutral districting criteria & not subordinate them to partisan criteria. They should give the voters of all political parties substantially equal opportunity to translate votes into seats across the plan.
What's next? By 2/18 the NCGA & the parties must submit new maps to trial court. By 2/21, comments on proposed maps are due. By noon on 2/23, the trial court must decide. By 5 pm on 2/23, parties must appeal and seek stay. Primary date is 5/17 provided defects are fixed.
