AIRC Update: We have final maps – to the DOJ!

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

As anticipated, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission approved the final maps for congressional and legiaslative district maps at its meeting today. The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Arizona redistricting commission OKs legislative, congressional maps:

Arizona’s redistricting commission divided along party lines Tuesday as its members approved maps of new congressional and legislative districts by identical 3-2 votes.

The two Democrats and independent Colleen Mathis voted for both maps. The two Republicans voted against both.

The commission will submit both maps to the U.S. Department of Justice for a required review of how the maps treat minorities’ voting rights.

The DOJ typically has 60 days to review the maps for Voting Rights Act compliance. I believe the review process will take less time because the AIRC has done such a thorough job of documenting Voting Rights Act compliance, unlike 10 years ago when the DOJ issued a letter of objection to the Arizona Redistricting Plan in May 2002, finding intentional discrimination in one district and raising concerns about several other districts. (That Redistricting Plan did not pass DOJ pre-clearance until 2004).

It's anyone's guess what the secretive GOP redistricting organization FAIR Trust and its lawyers/lobbyists are plotting in their shadowy lair.


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