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NYS Appeals court declares redistricting unconstitutional

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Primary elections are now expected to be delayed, local Republicans react

By Andrew Harris

Every decade, based on data from the US Census, politicians are charged with creating new state voting districts. The process is supposed to be a non-partisan effort, although it rarely has been, especially in a decidedly “red state,” or “blue state,” like New York.

Today a judge in NY had this to say about the Democrats attempt at redistricting:

“…the enactment of the congressional and Senate maps by the legislature was procedurally unconstitutional, and the congressional map is also substantively unconstitutional as drawn with impermissible partisan purpose, leaving the state without constitutional district lines for use in the 2022 primary and general elections.”

Republican candidate for Governor, Lee Zeldin, was quick to fire off his reaction:

“New York’s Court of Appeals just tossed the hyper-partisan, gerrymandered Congressional and State Senate maps for the state. This is excellent news for the people of New York and yet another big time defeat for Kathy Hochul and her Democrat allies.”

Western New York Republican NY State Senator George Borrello echoed Zeldin’s statement:

“Today’s ruling by the Court of Appeals is a major victory for New Yorkers who have repeatedly rejected a redistricting process tainted by politics and comprised of backroom deal making. Even the Democrat-appointed members of the court recognized the egregious gerrymandering of the congressional and legislative maps submitted by One Party Rule. The will of the people prevailed today.”  

Now that the redistricting has been throw out by the appeals court, another state court will announce a “special master,” to redraw the districts. According to the appeals court, that means a planned June primary will likely now be held in August of this year:

“We are confident that, in consultation with the Board of Elections, Supreme Court can swiftly develop a schedule to facilitate an August primary election, allowing time for the adoption of new constitutional maps.”

Read the courts full ruling here

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