Here are some updates from the past few days you may have missed.
Previously-Blocked Provisions of Florida Voter Suppression Law Temporarily Reinstated -
In March, a federal judge struck down three provisions of Senate Bill 90, Florida’s voter suppression law. Florida appealed the decision and asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to pause the decision pending the outcome of an appeal.
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On Friday, the Court of Appeals granted Florida’s request, reinstating two of S.B. 90’s provisions – the line-warming ban and drop box restrictions – while the appeal continues. The third provision that was previously struck down has been repealed by the Florida Legislature and will no longer be in effect. Learn more about the decision here.
South Carolina Will Redraw State House Districts Following Lawsuit -
Last year, the NAACP sued South Carolina over its new state House and congressional districts. The lawsuit alleged the districts are racial gerrymanders that dilute the voting strength of Black voters in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments.
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As a result of a settlement in the case, South Carolina has agreed to redraw the state House map. The Legislature will enact a new map by May 12 that gives Black voters the ability to elect the candidate of their choice in several counties. Read more about the settlement here.
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- A trial over the congressional districts is scheduled for this fall.
Lawsuit Filed Against New Hampshire’s Legislative Maps -
On Friday, a lawsuit was filed in state court against New Hampshire’s state Senate and Executive Council districts, which were signed into law by Gov. Chris Sununu (R) the week before. The complaint alleges the districts are partisan gerrymanders that impermissibly favor Republicans in violation of the New Hampshire Constitution and argues that both maps should be blocked by the court. Find out more here.
Plus, we’re about six months out from the midterm elections in November! To help you get ready, we’ve made a resource page with everything you need to know before casting your ballot. Check it out here. Can’t get enough news? You can always find more details about these updates on our Alerts page. Thanks for staying in the fight,
Team Democracy Docket |
