Daily Docket — Tuesday, May 30

Here are some recent court updates.

• Today, there were hearings in two lawsuits challenging Georgia's congressional and legislative maps. The lawsuits argue that the maps are racially gerrymandered and dilute the voting strength of communities of color.

• A federal judge in Florida approved a redistricting settlement reached a few weeks ago between civil rights groups and the city of Jacksonville, Florida. The settlement creates fairer districts for Jacksonville’s city council.

• In other local redistricting news, Boston City Council and Mayor Michelle Wu (D) approved new city council districts after a federal court found that the prior map likely violated the 14th Amendment.

• An Arizona court sanctioned failed secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem (R) for his baseless lawsuit contesting his loss to Adrian Fontes (D). The court ordered Finchem to pay over $47,000 in fees related to the litigation.

Here’s what happened over the past few days as legislative sessions wrap up.

• Yesterday, the Texas Legislature adjourned its regular legislative session after sending three more anti-democratic bills to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for his signature:

• • House Bill 1243, which would make illegal voting a felony again after Republicans' own 2021 omnibus voter suppression law lowered the penalty to a misdemeanor;

• • Senate Bill 1933, which would allow the governor-appointed secretary of state to take over election administration in Harris County, Texas, the most populous county in the state and a Democratic stronghold and 

• • Senate Bill 1070, which would allow the state to leave the voter list maintenance organization ERIC.

• Last Friday, the Oklahoma Legislature adjourned without advancing a bill that would have bifurcated the election administration of state and federal elections if Oklahoma officials disliked federal election law. The state also failed to pass a bill that would have made it harder to file citizen-initiated ballot measures.

• Nevada’s Legislature is set to adjourn next week. The Legislature recently sent Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) two bills, one that focuses on voter challenges and another that aims to protect election officials.

• Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed a bill that would have forced the state to leave ERIC, an organization that helps states maintain accurate voter rolls. A wave of GOP-led states have withdrawn from the group this year due to election conspiracies.

Can’t get enough news? You can always find more details about these updates on our News page.

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