Redistricting in Wyoming after the 2020 census

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Redistricting
State legislative and congressional redistricting after the 2020 census
General information
State-by-state redistricting procedures • Majority-minority districts • Gerrymandering
The 2020 cycle
United States census, 2020 • Congressional apportionment • Redistricting committees • Deadlines • 2022 House elections with multiple incumbents • New U.S.House districts created after apportionment • Congressional maps • State legislative maps • Lawsuits • Status of redistricting after the 2020 census
Redrawn maps
Redistricting before 2024 elections • Redistricting before 2026 elections
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Redistricting is the process of enacting new district boundaries for elected offices, particularly for offices in the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures. This article chronicles the 2020 redistricting cycle in Wyoming.

Wyoming's one United States representative and 93 state legislators are all elected from political divisions called districts. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. Wyoming was the only state during the 2020 redistricting cycle that changed its number of state legislators. Federal law stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.

Wyoming was apportioned one single at-large U.S. House seat, making Congressional redistricting after the 2020 census unnecessary.

On March 25, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) allowed the state’s legislative maps to become law without signing the redistricting bill approved by the legislature. The legislature approved Wyoming HB100 on March 11. The bill added one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats to the state legislature. The Senate passed legislative redistricting plans, voting 20-10 to approve an amended version of the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee's proposal.[1] The House rejected maps approved by the Senate in a 46-11 vote on March 8. Legislative leaders formed a committee of three representatives and three senators to resolve disputes over the proposals.[2] On March 11, the House passed the maps in a 44-12 vote, and the Senate passed the maps in a 17-12 vote.[3]

Click here for more information.

See the sections below for further information on the following topics:

  1. Summary: This section provides summary information about the drafting and enacting processes.
  2. Apportionment and release of census data: This section details the 2020 apportionment process, including data from the United States Census Bureau.
  3. Drafting process: This section details the drafting process for new congressional and state legislative district maps.
  4. Enactment: This section provides information about the enacted congressional and state legislative district maps.
  5. Court challenges: This section details court challenges to the enacted congressional and state legislative district maps.
  6. Background: This section summarizes federal and state-based requirements for redistricting at both the congressional and state legislative levels. A summary of the 2010 redistricting cycle in Wyoming is also provided.

Summary

This section lists major events in the post-2020 census redistricting cycle in reverse chronological order. Major events include the release of apportionment data, the release of census population data, the introduction of formal map proposals, the enactment of new maps, and noteworthy court challenges. Click the dates below for additional information.

  • March 25, 2022: Gov. Mark Gordon (R) allowed the new state legislative maps to become law without his signature.
  • March 11, 2022: The legislature approved new state legislative maps.
  • March 8, 2022: The House rejected maps approved by the Senate in a 46-11 vote.
  • March 3, 2022: The Senate passed legislative redistricting plans, voting 20-10 to approve an amended version of the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee's proposal.
  • February 23, 2022: The Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee approved an amended version of the state legislative map proposal passed by the House.
  • February 16, 2022: The House approved a state legislative map proposal.
  • January 27, 2022: The Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee released six new statewide legislative district proposals.
  • January 12, 2022: The committee released three new statewide legislative district proposals.
  • December 28, 2021: The committee adopted a revised version of the Statewide Compilation Plan proposed on December 14.
  • December 14, 2021: Legislators submitted the first statewide legislative map proposals for the December 14 committee meeting.
  • September 20, 2021: The Wyoming legislature released its interactive mapping tool.
  • September 16, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2020 census in an easier-to-use format to state redistricting authorities and the public.
  • August 12, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau delivered redistricting data to states in a legacy format.
  • April 26, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau delivered apportionment counts.

Enactment

Enacted congressional district maps

Wyoming was apportioned one single at-large U.S. House seat, making Congressional redistricting after the 2020 census unnecessary.

Enacted state legislative district maps

See also: State legislative district maps implemented after the 2020 census

On March 25, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) allowed the state’s legislative maps to become law without signing the redistricting bill approved by the legislature. The legislature approved Wyoming HB100 on March 11. The bill added one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats to the state legislature. The Senate passed legislative redistricting plans, voting 20-10 to approve an amended version of the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee's proposal.[4] The House rejected maps approved by the Senate in a 46-11 vote on March 8. Legislative leaders formed a committee of three representatives and three senators to resolve disputes over the proposals.[5] On March 11, the House passed the maps in a 44-12 vote, and the Senate passed the maps in a 17-12 vote.[6]

State Senate map

Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Wyoming State Senate Districts
until January 1, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Wyoming State Senate Districts
starting January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

State House map

Below is the state House map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Wyoming State House Districts
until January 1, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Wyoming State House Districts
starting January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.


Reactions

Gordon said of the new maps, “I feel very comfortable with my neighbors being in the district they’re accustomed to shopping in, going to the feed store, or selling their cattle. So from that perspective I think it was a good solution.”[7] Senate Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss (D) said “we basically ran out of time. It’s kind of like when you’re out of time and you have to submit your homework and here we are. But at the end of the day it isn’t living to the standards and obligations we were supposed to be putting forward.”[8]

Drafting process

Wyoming is home to one at-large congressional district, making congressional redistricting unnecessary. State legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. State legislative district plans are subject to veto by the governor.[9]

In 2011, a joint legislative committee adopted the following guidelines for state legislative redistricting:[9]

  1. Districts should be contiguous and compact.
  2. Districts should "reflect a community of interest."
  3. Districts should "consider significant geographic features."
  4. "A majority of the population of each county" should reside within a single district.
  5. "Consideration should be given to nesting two House districts in each state Senate district."

Timeline

The following timeline is based on the Joint Committee on Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions' calendar and news coverage of the redistricting process.[10][11]

Projected redistricting timeline for Wyoming, 2020 cycle
Date Event
November 1, 2021 Map drafts due
December 1, 2021 Final redistricting legislation deadline
December 1-2, 2021 8:30 AM Committee meeting, Cheyenne

Committees and/or commissions involved in the process

Wyoming Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions membership, 2020 cycle
Name Member type Partisan affiliation
Sen. Ogden Driskill, Chair Legislator Republican Party
Sen. Brian Boner Legislator Republican Party
Sen. Cale Case Legislator Republican Party
Sen. Tara Nethercott Legislator Republican Party
Sen. Charles Scott Legislator Republican Party
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer Legislator Republican Party
Rep. Jim Blackburn Legislator Republican Party
Rep. Aaron Clausen Legislator Republican Party
Rep. Andi LeBeau Legislator Democratic Party
Rep. Shelly Duncan Legislator Republican Party
Rep. Danny Eyre Legislator Republican Party
Rep. Hans Hunt Legislator Republican Party
Rep. Joe MacGuire Legislator Republican Party
Rep. Jim Roscoe Legislator Republican Party


Pre-drafting developments

The Wyoming legislature released its interactive mapping tool on September 20, 2021. The mapping interface, provided by Maptitude, allows legislators and members of the public to draw legislative maps. Click here to access the mapping tool.[12]

Drafts and proposals

Wyoming was apportioned one single at-large U.S. House seat, making Congressional redistricting after the 2020 census unnecessary. Legislators submitted the first statewide legislative map proposals for the December 14 and 28, 2021 meetings of the Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee. In meetings on January 12 and 27, 2022, the committee released additional proposals for consideration.[13] In the January 27 meeting, legislators considered a proposal that would add two new House districts and one new Senate district.[14] The House approved a state legislative proposal on February 16 that would raise the number of legislators to 62 representatives and 31 senators.[15] The Senate Corporations committee approved an amended version of the state legislative map proposal passed by the House.[16]

The Senate passed legislative redistricting plans, voting 20-10 to approve an amended version of the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee's proposal on March 3.[17] The House rejected maps approved by the Senate in a 46-11 vote on March 8. Legislative leaders formed a committee of three representatives and three senators to resolve disputes over the proposals.[18] On March 11, the House passed the maps in a 44-12 vote, and the Senate passed the maps in a 17-12 vote.[19]

Legislative maps

The Wyoming Legislature lists all state legislative map proposals on its website. Click the link below to view the proposed district maps.

Apportionment and release of census data

Apportionment is the process by which representation in a legislative body is distributed among its constituents. The number of seats in the United States House of Representatives is fixed at 435. The United States Constitution dictates that districts be redrawn every 10 years to ensure equal populations between districts. Every ten years, upon completion of the United States census, reapportionment occurs.[20]

Apportionment following the 2020 census

The U.S. Census Bureau delivered apportionment counts on April 26, 2021. Wyoming was apportioned one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. This represented neither a gain nor a loss of seats as compared to apportionment after the 2010 census.[21]

See the table below for additional details.

2020 and 2010 census information for Wyoming
State 2010 census 2020 census 2010-2020
Population U.S. House seats Population U.S. House seats Raw change in population Percentage change in population Change in U.S. House seats
Wyoming 568,300 1 577,719 1 9,419 1.66% 0


Redistricting data from the Census Bureau

On February 12, 2021, the Census Bureau announced that it would deliver redistricting data to the states by September 30, 2021. On March 15, 2021, the Census Bureau released a statement indicating it would make redistricting data available to the states in a legacy format in mid-to-late August 2021. A legacy format presents the data in raw form, without data tables and other access tools. On May 25, 2021, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) announced that the state had reached a settlement agreement with the Census Bureau in its lawsuit over the Census Bureau's timetable for delivering redistricting data. Under the terms of the settlement, the Census Bureau agreed to deliver redistricting data, in a legacy format, by August 16, 2021.[22][23][24][25] The Census Bureau released the 2020 redistricting data in a legacy format on August 12, 2021, and in an easier-to-use format at data.census.gov on September 16, 2021.[26][27]

States that added legislative districts during redistricting

Wyoming enacted new state legislative district boundaries on March 25 when Gov. Mark Gordon (R) allowed the maps to become law without signing them. The bill added one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats to the state legislature, meaning that after the 2022 elections, Wyoming had 31 state Senators and 62 state Representatives.[28] Wyoming is the only state that changed its number of legislators after the 2020 census.

West Virginia adopted a redistricting plan that changed the state’s House of Delegates from 67 to 100 districts but kept the number of legislators at 100. It went having 47 single-member and 20 multi-member districts to 100 single-member districts.[29]

Before the 2022 elections, there were 1,972 state Senators and 5,411 state Representatives. After the 2022 elections, there were 1,973 state Senators and 5,413 Representatives.

According to the National Conference of State Legislators, Wyoming changed the number of members of its state legislature five times between 1964 and 1992. During that period, the state House of Representatives had between 56 and 64 members and the state Senate had between 25 and 30 members.[30]

After the 2010 census, New York increased its number of state Senators from 62 to 63. 

After the 2000 census, New York increased the number of state Senators by one, to 62. Two states—North Dakota and Rhode Island—reduced the number of state legislators in both chambers.[30]

State legislature changes from 1960 to 2021

The tables below display changes in the number of members of each state's legislature since 1960:[31]

Court challenges

If you are aware of any relevant lawsuits that are not listed here, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

This section will include information regarding legal challenges to enacted maps.

Background

This section includes background information on federal requirements for congressional redistricting, state legislative redistricting, state-based requirements, redistricting methods used in the 50 states, gerrymandering, and recent court decisions.

Federal requirements for congressional redistricting

According to Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, the states and their legislatures have primary authority in determining the "times, places, and manner" of congressional elections. Congress may also pass laws regulating congressional elections.[32][33]

“ 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 chusing Senators.[34] ”
—United States Constitution

Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution stipulates that congressional representatives be apportioned to the states on the basis of population. There are 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives. Each state is allotted a portion of these seats based on the size of its population relative to the other states. Consequently, a state may gain seats in the House if its population grows or lose seats if its population decreases, relative to populations in other states. In 1964, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Wesberry v. Sanders that the populations of House districts must be equal "as nearly as practicable."[35][36][37]

The equal population requirement for congressional districts is strict. According to All About Redistricting, "Any district with more or fewer people than the average (also known as the 'ideal' population), must be specifically justified by a consistent state policy. And even consistent policies that cause a 1 percent spread from largest to smallest district will likely be unconstitutional."[37]

Federal requirements for state legislative redistricting

The United States Constitution is silent on the issue of state legislative redistricting. In the mid-1960s, the United States Supreme Court issued a series of rulings in an effort to clarify standards for state legislative redistricting. In Reynolds v. Sims, the court ruled that "the Equal Protection Clause [of the United States Constitution] demands no less than substantially equal state legislative representation for all citizens, of all places as well as of all races." According to All About Redistricting, "it has become accepted that a [redistricting] plan will be constitutionally suspect if the largest and smallest districts [within a state or jurisdiction] are more than 10 percent apart."[37]

State-based requirements

In addition to the federal criteria noted above, individual states may impose additional requirements on redistricting. Common state-level redistricting criteria are listed below.

  1. Contiguity refers to the principle that all areas within a district should be physically adjacent. A total of 49 states require that districts of at least one state legislative chamber be contiguous (Nevada has no such requirement, imposing no requirements on redistricting beyond those enforced at the federal level). A total of 23 states require that congressional districts meet contiguity requirements.[37][38]
  2. Compactness refers to the general principle that the constituents within a district should live as near to one another as practicable. A total of 37 states impose compactness requirements on state legislative districts; 18 states impose similar requirements for congressional districts.[37][38]
  3. A community of interest is defined by FairVote as a "group of people in a geographical area, such as a specific region or neighborhood, who have common political, social or economic interests." A total of 24 states require that the maintenance of communities of interest be considered in the drawing of state legislative districts. A total of 13 states impose similar requirements for congressional districts.[37][38]
  4. A total of 42 states require that state legislative district lines be drawn to account for political boundaries (e.g., the limits of counties, cities, and towns). A total of 19 states require that similar considerations be made in the drawing of congressional districts.[37][38]

Methods

In general, a state's redistricting authority can be classified as one of the following:[39]

  1. Legislature-dominant: In a legislature-dominant state, the legislature retains the ultimate authority to draft and enact district maps. Maps enacted by the legislature may or may not be subject to gubernatorial veto. Advisory commissions may also be involved in the redistricting process, although the legislature is not bound to adopt an advisory commission's recommendations.
  2. Commission: In a commission state, an extra-legislative commission retains the ultimate authority to draft and enact district maps. A non-politician commission is one whose members cannot hold elective office. A politician commission is one whose members can hold elective office.
  3. Hybrid: In a hybrid state, the legislature shares redistricting authority with a commission.

Gerrymandering

In 1812, Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed into law a state Senate district map that, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, "consolidated the Federalist Party vote in a few districts and thus gave disproportionate representation to Democratic-Republicans." The word gerrymander was coined by The Boston Gazette to describe the district.
See also: Gerrymandering

The term gerrymandering refers to the practice of drawing electoral district lines to favor one political party, individual, or constituency over another. When used in a rhetorical manner by opponents of a particular district map, the term has a negative connotation but does not necessarily address the legality of a challenged map. The term can also be used in legal documents; in this context, the term describes redistricting practices that violate federal or state laws.[40][41]

For additional background information about gerrymandering, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

The phrase racial gerrymandering refers to the practice of drawing electoral district lines to dilute the voting power of racial minority groups. Federal law prohibits racial gerrymandering and establishes that, to combat this practice and to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act, states and jurisdictions can create majority-minority electoral districts. A majority-minority district is one in which a racial group or groups comprise a majority of the district's populations. Racial gerrymandering and majority-minority districts are discussed in greater detail in this article.[42]

The phrase partisan gerrymandering refers to the practice of drawing electoral district maps with the intention of favoring one political party over another. In contrast with racial gerrymandering, on which the Supreme Court of the United States has issued rulings in the past affirming that such practices violate federal law, the high court had not, as of November 2017, issued a ruling establishing clear precedent on the question of partisan gerrymandering. Although the court has granted in past cases that partisan gerrymandering can violate the United States Constitution, it has never adopted a standard for identifying or measuring partisan gerrymanders. Partisan gerrymandering is described in greater detail in this article.[43][44]

Recent court decisions

See also: Redistricting cases heard by the Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States has, in recent years, issued several decisions dealing with redistricting policy, including rulings relating to the consideration of race in drawing district maps, the use of total population tallies in apportionment, and the constitutionality of redistricting commissions. The rulings in these cases, which originated in a variety of states, impact redistricting processes across the nation.

For additional background information about these cases, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP (2024)

See also: Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP

Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP — This case concerns a challenge to the congressional redistricting plan that the South Carolina legislature enacted after the 2020 census. In January 2023, a federal three-judge panel ruled that the state's 1st Congressional District was unconstitutional and enjoined the state from conducting future elections using its district boundaries. The panel's opinion said, "The Court finds that race was the predominant factor motivating the General Assembly’s adoption of Congressional District No. 1...Defendants have made no showing that they had a compelling state interest in the use of race in the design of Congressional District No. 1 and thus cannot survive a strict scrutiny review."[45] Thomas Alexander (R)—in his capacity as South Carolina State Senate president—appealed the federal court's ruling, arguing: :In striking down an isolated portion of South Carolina Congressional District 1 as a racial gerrymander, the panel never even mentioned the presumption of the General Assembly’s “good faith.”...The result is a thinly reasoned order that presumes bad faith, erroneously equates the purported racial effect of a single line in Charleston County with racial predominance across District 1, and is riddled with “legal mistake[s]” that improperly relieved Plaintiffs of their “demanding” burden to prove that race was the “predominant consideration” in District 1.[46] The U.S. Supreme Court scheduled oral argument on this case for October 11, 2023.[47]

Moore v. Harper (2023)

See also: Moore v. Harper

At issue in Moore v. Harper, was whether state legislatures alone are empowered by the Constitution to regulate federal elections without oversight from state courts, which is known as the independent state legislature doctrine. On November 4, 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly adopted a new congressional voting map based on 2020 Census data. The legislature, at that time, was controlled by the Republican Party. In the case Harper v. Hall (2022), a group of Democratic Party-affiliated voters and nonprofit organizations challenged the map in state court, alleging that the new map was a partisan gerrymander that violated the state constitution.[48] On February 14, 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the state could not use the map in the 2022 elections and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings. The trial court adopted a new congressional map drawn by three court-appointed experts. The United States Supreme Court affirmed the North Carolina Supreme Court's original decision in Moore v. Harper that the state's congressional district map violated state law. In a 6-3 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the "Elections Clause does not vest exclusive and independent authority in state legislatures to set the rules regarding federal elections.[49]

Merrill v. Milligan (2023)

See also: Merrill v. Milligan

At issue in Merrill v. Milligan, was the constitutionality of Alabama's 2021 redistricting plan and whether it violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. A group of Alabama voters and organizations sued Secretary of State John Merrill (R) and the House and Senate redistricting chairmen, Rep. Chris Pringle (R) and Sen. Jim McClendon (R). Plaintiffs alleged the congressional map enacted on Nov. 4, 2021, by Gov. Kay Ivey (R) unfairly distributed Black voters. The plaintiffs asked the lower court to invalidate the enacted congressional map and order a new map with instructions to include a second majority-Black district. The court ruled 5-4, affirming the lower court opinion that the plaintiffs showed a reasonable likelihood of success concerning their claim that Alabama's redistricting map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.[50]

Gill v. Whitford (2018)

See also: Gill v. Whitford

In Gill v. Whitford, decided on June 18, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the plaintiffs—12 Wisconsin Democrats who alleged that Wisconsin's state legislative district plan had been subject to an unconstitutional gerrymander in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments—had failed to demonstrate standing under Article III of the United States Constitution to bring a complaint. The court's opinion, penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, did not address the broader question of whether partisan gerrymandering claims are justiciable and remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings. Roberts was joined in the majority opinion by Associate Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Kagan penned a concurring opinion joined by Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas penned an opinion that concurred in part with the majority opinion and in the judgment, joined by Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch.[51]

Cooper v. Harris (2017)

See also: Cooper v. Harris

In Cooper v. Harris, decided on May 22, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed the judgment of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, finding that two of North Carolina's congressional districts, the boundaries of which had been set following the 2010 United States Census, had been subject to an illegal racial gerrymander in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Justice Elena Kagan delivered the court's majority opinion, which was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor (Thomas also filed a separate concurring opinion). In the court's majority opinion, Kagan described the two-part analysis utilized by the high court when plaintiffs allege racial gerrymandering as follows: "First, the plaintiff must prove that 'race was the predominant factor motivating the legislature's decision to place a significant number of voters within or without a particular district.' ... Second, if racial considerations predominated over others, the design of the district must withstand strict scrutiny. The burden shifts to the State to prove that its race-based sorting of voters serves a 'compelling interest' and is 'narrowly tailored' to that end." In regard to the first part of the aforementioned analysis, Kagan went on to note that "a plaintiff succeeds at this stage even if the evidence reveals that a legislature elevated race to the predominant criterion in order to advance other goals, including political ones." Justice Samuel Alito delivered an opinion that concurred in part and dissented in part with the majority opinion. This opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy.[52][53][54]

Evenwel v. Abbott (2016)

See also: Evenwel v. Abbott

Evenwel v. Abbott was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2016. At issue was the constitutionality of state legislative districts in Texas. The plaintiffs, Sue Evenwel and Edward Pfenninger, argued that district populations ought to take into account only the number of registered or eligible voters residing within those districts as opposed to total population counts, which are generally used for redistricting purposes. Total population tallies include non-voting residents, such as immigrants residing in the country without legal permission, prisoners, and children. The plaintiffs alleged that this tabulation method dilutes the voting power of citizens residing in districts that are home to smaller concentrations of non-voting residents. The court ruled 8-0 on April 4, 2016, that a state or locality can use total population counts for redistricting purposes. The majority opinion was penned by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.[55][56][57][58]

Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (2016)

Justice Stephen Breyer penned the majority opinion in Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.
See also: Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission

Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2016. At issue was the constitutionality of state legislative districts that were created by the commission in 2012. The plaintiffs, a group of Republican voters, alleged that "the commission diluted or inflated the votes of almost two million Arizona citizens when the commission intentionally and systematically overpopulated 16 Republican districts while under-populating 11 Democrat districts." This, the plaintiffs argued, constituted a partisan gerrymander. The plaintiffs claimed that the commission placed a disproportionately large number of non-minority voters in districts dominated by Republicans; meanwhile, the commission allegedly placed many minority voters in smaller districts that tended to vote Democratic. As a result, the plaintiffs argued, more voters overall were placed in districts favoring Republicans than in those favoring Democrats, thereby diluting the votes of citizens in the Republican-dominated districts. The defendants countered that the population deviations resulted from legally defensible efforts to comply with the Voting Rights Act and obtain approval from the United States Department of Justice. At the time of redistricting, certain states were required to obtain preclearance from the U.S. Department of Justice before adopting redistricting plans or making other changes to their election laws—a requirement struck down by the United States Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder (2013). On April 20, 2016, the court ruled unanimously that the plaintiffs had failed to prove that a partisan gerrymander had taken place. Instead, the court found that the commission had acted in good faith to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The court's majority opinion was penned by Justice Stephen Breyer.[59][60][61]

Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (2015)

See also: Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2015. At issue was the constitutionality of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, which was established by state constitutional amendment in 2000. According to Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, "the Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof." The state legislature argued that the use of the word "legislature" in this context is literal; therefore, only a state legislature may draw congressional district lines. Meanwhile, the commission contended that the word "legislature" ought to be interpreted to mean "the legislative powers of the state," including voter initiatives and referenda. On June 29, 2015, the court ruled 5-4 in favor of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, finding that "redistricting is a legislative function, to be performed in accordance with the state's prescriptions for lawmaking, which may include the referendum and the governor's veto." The majority opinion was penned by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and joined by Justices Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, and Samuel Alito dissented.[62][63][64][65]

Trifectas and redistricting

In 34 of the states that conducted legislative elections in 2020, the legislatures themselves played a significant part in the subsequent redistricting process. The winner of eight of 2020's gubernatorial elections had veto authority over state legislative or congressional district plans approved by legislatures. The party that won trifecta control of a state in which redistricting authority rests with the legislature directed the process that produces the maps that will be used for the remainder of the decade. Trifecta shifts in the 2010 election cycle illustrate this point. In 2010, 12 states in which legislatures had authority over redistricting saw shifts in trifecta status. Prior to the 2010 elections, seven of these states were Democratic trifectas; the rest were divided governments. After the 2010 elections, seven of these states became Republican trifectas; the remainder either remained or became divided governments. The table below details these shifts and charts trifecta status heading into the 2020 election cycle.

The 12 legislature-redistricting states that saw trifecta shifts in 2010 – subsequent trifecta status
State Primary redistricting authority Pre-2010 trifecta status Post-2010 trifecta status Post-2018 trifecta status
Alabama Legislature Divided Republican Republican
Colorado Congressional maps: legislature
State legislative maps: politician commission		 Democratic Divided Democratic
Indiana Legislature Divided Republican Republican
Iowa Legislature Democratic Divided Republican
Maine Legislature Democratic Republican Democratic
Michigan Legislature Divided Republican Divided
New Hampshire Legislature Democratic Divided Divided
North Carolina Legislature Democratic Divided Divided
Ohio Congressional maps: legislature
State legislative maps: politician commission		 Divided Republican Republican
Oregon Legislature Democratic Divided Democratic
Pennsylvania Congressional maps: legislature
State legislative maps: politician commission		 Divided Republican Divided
Wisconsin Legislature Democratic Republican Divided

2010 redistricting cycle

Redistricting in Wyoming after the 2010 census

Following the 2010 United States Census, Wyoming did not add to its single congressional seat, making congressional redistricting unnecessary. At the time of redistricting, Republicans held majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. On March 1, 2012, the legislature approved a state legislative redistricting plan, which was signed into law on March 6, 2012.[9]

On April 5, 2012, a suit was filed in state court challenging the newly-approved state legislative district lines. The plaintiffs alleged "violations of the state and federal constitution, including allegedly insufficient attention to county representation." On August 6, 2014, the state filed a motion for summary judgment. The case was filed as Hunzie v. Maxfield.[9]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Senate sends 60-30 redistricting plan back to House," March 3, 2022
  2. ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "Wyoming House votes down redistricting map, triggers joint committee," March 8, 2022
  3. ↑ Wyoming Legislature, "HB0100 - Redistricting of the legislature.," accessed March 29, 2022
  4. ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Senate sends 60-30 redistricting plan back to House," March 3, 2022
  5. ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "Wyoming House votes down redistricting map, triggers joint committee," March 8, 2022
  6. ↑ Wyoming Legislature, "HB0100 - Redistricting of the legislature.," accessed March 29, 2022
  7. ↑ Wyoming Public Media, "Gordon has no concerns regarding redistricting bill," March 15, 2022
  8. ↑ Wyoming Public Media, "Despite some grumbling, lawmakers finally approve legislative redistricting plan," March 13, 2022
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 All About Redistricting, "Wyoming," accessed April 28, 2015
  10. ↑ Wyoming Legislature, "2021 Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions," accessed October 8, 2021
  11. ↑ The Sheridan Press, "RUNNING OUT OF TIME Draft redistricting plans due to state by Nov. 1, October 8, 2021
  12. ↑ Laramie Live, "Wyoming Legislature releases redistricting mapping portal," September 20, 2021
  13. ↑ Wyoming Legislature, "2022 Proposed Redistricting Plans," accessed January 28, 2022
  14. ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Latest Wyo. redistricting plan: Add 3 more lawmakers," January 27, 2022
  15. ↑ KPVI, "Wyoming House gives first approval to redistricting plan," February 16, 2022
  16. ↑ Wyoming Public Media, "Senate committee approves legislative redistricting bill," February 23, 2022
  17. ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Senate sends 60-30 redistricting plan back to House," March 3, 2022
  18. ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "Wyoming House votes down redistricting map, triggers joint committee," March 8, 2022
  19. ↑ Wyoming Legislature, "HB0100 - Redistricting of the legislature.," accessed March 29, 2022
  20. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Apportionment," accessed July 11, 2018
  21. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "2020 Census Apportionment Results Delivered to the President," April 26, 2021
  22. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "2020 Census Operational Plan: Executive Summary," December 2015
  23. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Census Bureau Statement on Redistricting Data Timeline," February 12, 2021
  24. ↑ Office of the Attorney General of Ohio, "AG Yost Secures Victory for Ohioans in Settlement with Census Bureau Data Lawsuit," May 25, 2021
  25. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Statement on Release of Legacy Format Summary Redistricting Data File," March 15, 2021
  26. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data," accessed August 12, 2021
  27. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Census Bureau Delivers 2020 Census Redistricting Data in Easier-to-Use Format," September 16, 2021
  28. ↑ Wyoming News.com, "Gov. Mark Gordon allows redistricting bill to become law without his signature," March 25, 2022
  29. ↑ WV News, "West Virginia House passes bill to create 100 single-member districts," October 13, 2021
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 National Conference of State Legislators, "Changes in the Sizes of Legislatures 1960-2021," accessed April 14, 2022
  31. ↑ National Conference of State Legislators, Changes in the Sizes of Legislatures 1960-2021, accessed April 14, 2022
  32. ↑ The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, "Election Regulations," accessed April 13, 2015
  33. ↑ Brookings, "Redistricting and the United States Constitution," March 22, 2011
  34. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  35. ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "A Citizen's Guide to Redistricting," accessed March 25, 2015
  36. ↑ The Constitution of the United States of America, "Article 1, Section 2," accessed March 25, 2015
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 All About Redistricting, "Where are the lines drawn?" accessed April 9, 2015
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 FairVote, "Redistricting Glossary," accessed April 9, 2015
  39. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Who draws the lines?" accessed June 19, 2017
  40. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
  41. ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica, "Gerrymandering," November 4, 2014
  42. ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Congressional Redistricting and the Voting Rights Act: A Legal Overview," April 13, 2015
  43. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "Supreme Court to Consider Limits on Partisan Drawing of Election Maps," June 19, 2017
  44. ↑ The Washington Post, "Supreme Court to hear potentially landmark case on partisan gerrymandering," June 19, 2017
  45. ↑ United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, "South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, et al. v. Alexander," January 6, 2023
  46. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, "Alexander, et al. v. The South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, et al.," February 17, 2023
  47. ↑ SCOTUSblog, "Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP," accessed July 21, 2023
  48. ↑ SCOTUSblog, "Justices will hear case that tests power of state legislatures to set rules for federal elections," June 30, 2022
  49. ↑ U.S. Supreme Court, “Moore, in his Official Capacity as Speaker of The North Carolina House of Representatives, et al. v. Harper et al.," "Certiorari to the Supreme Court of North Carolina,” accessed June 16, 2023
  50. ↑ SCOTUSblog.org, "Supreme Court upholds Section 2 of Voting Rights Act," June 8, 2023
  51. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, "Gill v. Whitford: Decision," June 18, 2018
  52. ↑ Election Law Blog, "Breaking: SCOTUS to Hear NC Racial Gerrymandering Case," accessed June 27, 2016
  53. ↑ Ballot Access News, "U.S. Supreme Court Accepts Another Racial Gerrymandering Case," accessed June 28, 2016
  54. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, "Cooper v. Harris: Decision," May 22, 2017
  55. ↑ The Washington Post, "Supreme Court to hear challenge to Texas redistricting plan," May 26, 2015
  56. ↑ The New York Times, "Supreme Court Agrees to Settle Meaning of ‘One Person One Vote,'" May 26, 2015
  57. ↑ SCOTUSblog, "Evenwel v. Abbott," accessed May 27, 2015
  58. ↑ Associated Press, "Supreme Court to hear Texas Senate districts case," May 26, 2015
  59. ↑ SCOTUSblog, "The new look at 'one person, one vote,' made simple," July 27, 2015
  60. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, "Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission: Brief for Appellants," accessed December 14, 2015
  61. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, "Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission," April 20, 2016
  62. ↑ The New York Times, "Court Skeptical of Arizona Plan for Less-Partisan Congressional Redistricting," March 2, 2015
  63. ↑ The Atlantic, "Will the Supreme Court Let Arizona Fight Gerrymandering?" September 15, 2014
  64. ↑ United States Supreme Court, "Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission: Opinion of the Court," June 29, 2015
  65. ↑ The New York Times, "Supreme Court Upholds Creation of Arizona Redistricting Commission," June 29, 2015
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