Second suit challenges racial ‘gerrymandering’ in Arkansas’ congressional redistricting

KUAR | By Hunter Field / Arkansas Advocate

Three Central Arkansas voters and a religious group filed another federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Arkansas’ new congressional district map.

The voters and the Christian Ministerial Alliance claim that Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District — which includes most of Central Arkansas – was racially gerrymandered.

The complaint — like a similar lawsuit filed last year by several state legislators and voters — says parts of Pulaski County were “cracked,” or separated from the 2nd Congressional District to split up a voting bloc.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-05-24/second-suit-challenges-racial-gerrymandering-in-arkansas-congressional-redistricting

Ross D. Franklin/AP

Arizona state Sen. Andy Biggs flips through redistricting maps during a special legislative committee hearing to discuss the state commission's proposed maps in 2011.

Appeal filed in dismissal of Arkansas redistricting case

KUAR | By Josie Lenora, Daniel Breen

A decision by a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Arkansas’ new districts in the state House of Representatives is being appealed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Arkansas State Conference NAACP and the Arkansas Public Policy challenged the new map arguing it dilutes the power of Black voters. The map was approved by the state Board of Apportionment, which is made up of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Secretary of State John Thurston, all Republicans.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-02-23/groups-appeal-dismissal-of-arkansas-redistricting-case

ARCAN/Arkansas PBS

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge confer before the start of a meeting on Nov. 29, 2021 in which new legislative maps were approved.

Arkansas Lawmakers Approve Final Redistricting Map

By DANIEL BREEN

The Arkansas Legislature has given final approval to a re-drawn map of the state’s four U.S. congressional districts that splits Pulaski County among three districts. The proposed map now awaits a signature from Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

With little debate, members of the state House and Senate passed identical versions of the map on Thursday. House Bill 1982, sponsored by Rep. Nelda Speaks, R-Mountain Home, passed the Senate by a vote of 21 to 12. Shortly afterward, the House approved Senate Bill 743, sponsored by Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock, on a vote of 53 to 35.

The proposal would trisect Pulaski County among the 1st, 2nd and 4th congressional districts. Most of Little Rock would remain in the 2nd District, while areas on the southeast edge of the city would go to the 4th District, currently represented in the U-S House by Republican Bruce Westerman. All of Pulaski County is currently in the 2nd District, represented by Republican French Hill of Little Rock.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-lawmakers-approve-final-redistricting-map

A map that re-draws Arkansas' four U.S. congressional districts gained final approval from the legislature on Thursday.

CREDIT ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE

Instead of redistricting, Arkansas lawmakers attack Biden's vaccine mandates

By DANIEL BREEN

In an extended legislative session intended to focus on re-drawing Arkansas’ four U.S. Congressional districts, lawmakers have instead set their sights on COVID-19 vaccines.

Members of the Arkansas House and Senate have debated numerous proposals aimed at rolling back parts of President Joe Biden’s new vaccine mandates for private businesses. The slate of Republican-backed bills have had varying degrees of success.

The most successful so far has been Senate Bill 739, sponsored by Republican Sen. Kim Hammer of Benton. After successfully passing out of a House committee Tuesday, it now faces a vote in the full House before going to the governor.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/instead-redistricting-arkansas-lawmakers-attack-bidens-vaccine-mandates

Sen. Blake Johnson, R-Corning, listens as single mother Ashley Vance addresses the Arkansas Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor committee on Friday.

CREDIT ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE

What To Expect When You're Redistricting

By DANIEL BREEN

Arkansas lawmakers are returning to the state Capitol Wednesday following an extended recess to formally begin the process of re-drawing the state’s four U.S. Congressional districts.

KUAR News spoke with Heather Yates, Ph.D., an associate professor of American Politics at the University of Central Arkansas, on what to expect from this year’s redistricting session. You can read an edited transcript of the conversation below.

What exactly is redistricting?

“Redistricting is the process that states undergo every 10 years to literally redraw the geographic electoral boundaries of the state's congressional districts, and on a state level its state Senate and state House districts. And the reason why the states do this is because they are commanded by Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution to take a count of the population. So every 10 years we take the Census, and then the state legislature uses that Census data then to reapportion the congressional districts to make sure that every person living in the United States has representation in the House of Representatives.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/what-expect-when-youre-redistricting

CREDIT NPR.ORG

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

There are three legislative meetings scheduled this month to review proposals for congressional redistricting. 

Arkansans are welcome to attend these meetings and comment on the proposals. 

The proposals will be outlined in bills drafted by legislators. We have provided a link to the bills at www.arkansashouse.org. 

The House and Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committees will be meeting jointly in the MAC building located directly behind the State Capitol. 

The schedule will be as follows: 

September 20, 2021 (1 p.m.)-Any congressional redistricting bills that have been filed by September 17, 2021, will be taken up by the committees.

 September 23, 2021 (1 p.m.) - Any congressional redistricting bills that have been filed by September 21, 2021, will be taken up by the committees.  

September 27, 2021 (1 p.m.) - Any congressional redistricting bills that have been filed by September 24, 2021, will be taken up by the committees.  

The committees will take no action during these three meetings.  

It is anticipated that leadership will call members back into the extended session of the 93rd General Assembly on September 29. That date is subject to change, and we will continue to update you on any developments. 

The General Assembly is tasked with only drawing the boundaries of the U.S. House of Representatives districts in Arkansas. The Board of Apportionment is tasked with drawing the state legislative boundaries. 

Our state’s population increased by 3.3% since 2010 when we last drew congressional boundaries. Some areas of the state have increased in population more than others. Our task is to redraw those boundaries now to ensure they are as equally populated as possible.  

All meetings will be live-streamed and recorded at www.arkansashouse.org.

Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught

The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee met on Monday to begin the discussion on the redistricting process for Congressional districts in Arkansas. 

Redistricting is the periodic redrawing of district boundaries that elected representatives who serve specific geographic areas. 

The periodic updating of districts must be done because, in a series of 1960’s cases, the U.S. Supreme Court held that districts must be equal in population. This is known as the “one-person, one-vote” requirement. 

Arkansas code establishes that Arkansas is divided into four congressional districts, and the responsibility for the delineation of congressional districts of the substantially equal population is given to the Arkansas General Assembly. 

The Board of Apportionment is responsible for drawing the boundaries of state legislative districts. The Board of Apportionment is comprised of the Governor, the Attorney General, and Secretary of State. The Board of Apportionment is holding meetings across the state, and the list of these events is found at www.arkansasredistricting.org. 

On Thursday, the U.S. Census Bureau released its numbers. It shows the population of Arkansas is now 3,011,524, an increase of 3.3% since 2010. Northwest Arkansas saw the most amount of growth in the past decade. 

Receiving this data is the first step. A software vendor contracted by the General Assembly will now begin entering the data in a format to allow members to draft potential maps. We expect to return to the Regular Session soon after that process is complete.  

The maps ultimately adopted by the General Assembly must be as nearly equal as possible and must not limit the right to vote of any racial minority. 

All legislative meetings regarding redistricting are open to the public, and there is time set aside for public comment. 

You can also watch the meetings live and recorded on our website www.arkansashouse.org.

Arkansas Apportionment Board Hires Former Chief Justice As Redistricting Coordinator

By SARAH KELLOGG

The members of the state Board of Apportionment, who are responsible for redrawing Arkansas’ congressional districts, on Monday approved the hiring of a former state Supreme Court chief justice to serve as the redistricting coordinator.

The three-membered board, consisting of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Secretary of State John Thurston, motioned and then approved the hiring of Betty Dickey to serve in the position at a rate of $10,000 a month until the end of the redistricting process.

After officially calling the meeting to order, the committee quickly went into executive session to interview Dickey. After reconvening, the board made a motion to hire her, which passed. 

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-apportionment-board-hires-former-chief-justice-redistricting-coordinator

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Secretary of State John Thurston gather during the second Board of Apportionment meeting

CREDIT ARKANSAS PBS

VIDEO: Governor Calls A Board of Apportionment Meeting Monday

LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson called a meeting of the Board of Apportionment for 4 p.m. Monday, June 7, 2021, in Room 151 in the State Capitol. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston joined the Governor for the Board’s second meeting. The Board held an executive session to consider and evaluate a Redistricting Coordinator.