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Lofgren applauds Supreme Court redistricting decision, calls on Congress to pass further reforms

June 29, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) issued the below statement following the Supreme Court's ruling today in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission:

"Voters in several states – including California – chose to create independent redistricting commissions to put an end to using redistricting as a partisan political tool. Today's ruling upholds that choice, and is an important victory for open and transparent governance.

"Congress can build on this ruling by passing the Redistricting Reform Act to end partisan gerrymandering throughout the nation. This is a bipartisan issue that needs bipartisan support to create a fair and accountable process that puts voters – not politicians – first."

Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution reads: "The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators".

Under the Redistricting Reform Act of 2015:

  • Each state would be required to establish an independent, multi-party redistricting commission to draw Congressional district maps.
  • Specific eligibility requirements ensure that members of the commissions cannot have certain conflicts of interests, such as lobbyists, political donors or party operatives, and must reflect the diversity of the state while operating transparently.
  • The criteria for a redistricting plan developed by the independent commission provides that districts must:
    • have equal population per representative, in accordance with the U.S. Constitution;
    • comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
    • be geographically contiguous and compact, as well as have boundaries that minimize the division of any community of interest, municipality, county, or neighborhood.
  • The commission must provide ample notice and opportunity for the public to provide input and engage in the redistricting process.

Click here for the bill text and a summary of the legislation.

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