Posted on May 13, 2022
Missouri Secretary of State tells legislature: Stop trying to draw a new congressional map
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As the Missouri Senate struggles to take up a revamped congressional map, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft claims there’s legal precedent for using the existing map — but experts disagree.
Before he entered the Missouri Senate lounge, state Rep. Dan Shaul reached into his pocket and took out a mint.
The chairman of a House committee redrawing Missouri’s eight congressional districts was expecting to present a plan his colleagues passed earlier this week. He remarked: “It’s kind of ironic that we’re eating lifesavers.”
Shaul’s quip turned out to be prophetic: The Senate committee handling congressional redistricting gaveled in on Thursday afternoon and then recessed just seconds later. It comes as Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is calling on lawmakers to abandon their last-ditch attempt to draw a map before Friday’s adjournment.
Ashcroft says there’s legal precedent for using the existing map but other experts disagree.
Before he entered the Missouri Senate lounge, state Rep. Dan Shaul reached into his pocket and took out a mint.
The chairman of a House committee redrawing Missouri’s eight congressional districts was expecting to present a plan his colleagues passed earlier this week. He remarked: “It’s kind of ironic that we’re eating lifesavers.”
Shaul’s quip turned out to be prophetic: The Senate committee handling congressional redistricting gaveled in on Thursday afternoon and then recessed just seconds later. It comes as Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is calling on lawmakers to abandon their last-ditch attempt to draw a map before Friday’s adjournment.
Ashcroft says there’s legal precedent for using the existing map but other experts disagree.
Missouri Secretary of State tells legislature: Stop trying to draw a new congressional map
Posted from kcur.org
Congress
Voting
Elections
Posted 2 y ago
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Definitely a contentious issue in many places coming up on the Nov 22 election cycle
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PFC Andrew "Tommy" M.
Unfortunately both parties are guilty of it, I'm sick of all the political games but until we come up with a better system and implement it this is what we get.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Frozen in time?
Ashcroft contends that if lawmakers don’t pass a map, courts are likely to require candidates to run in districts that were created in 2011. That’s based on precedent known as the Purcell principle, in which federal judges are hesitant to make election-related rulings close to when voters go to the polls.
Other election experts disagree with that assumption, contending that having elections based on a map created 10 years ago violates prohibitions against having districts of unequal populations. They expect federal courts to draw what’s known as a “least changed map” that alters boundaries due to population shifts — but keeps the map somewhat similar to the current one.
When asked if he was worried about a federal court ending up drawing a map, Ashcroft said, “I’m actually not concerned about that.”
“The United States Supreme Court has been very clear that federal courts should not be required to draw new maps,” Ashcroft said. “Why? Because they’re afraid it will cause confusion and difficulties running the election well. We are at that point now.”
Ashcroft said he didn’t speak out earlier because, among other things, letters were sent to lawmakers in January outlining “the dates we needed to be able to close our voter registration system to make sure this went” smoothly.
“And I have communicated these concerns to the legislators more in a private manner, because I didn’t want to be confrontational about it,” Ashcroft said. “I know that leadership was told very clearly by the [county clerks] a week or two weeks ago it’s too late. And when it looked like it was going to continue, I had to stand up for the local election authorities.”
Ashcroft, a Republican, was a proponent of creating a map likely to elect seven Republicans and one Democrat — a proposal that has run into bipartisan opposition in the Missouri General Assembly. If lawmakers don’t pass a map, it’s likely that the end result will help Democrats — because either a 2011 map or a slightly altered plan would keep the 2nd Congressional District competitive.
“I think the data would suggest that it’s better for Democrats to stay with the 2020 (election) map and use that in 2022 than for a Republican-controlled legislature to make a more pro-Republican map,” Ashcroft said. “I want voters to know with certainty that they will be able to vote. They’ll know who to vote on — and their vote will count.”"
..."Frozen in time?
Ashcroft contends that if lawmakers don’t pass a map, courts are likely to require candidates to run in districts that were created in 2011. That’s based on precedent known as the Purcell principle, in which federal judges are hesitant to make election-related rulings close to when voters go to the polls.
Other election experts disagree with that assumption, contending that having elections based on a map created 10 years ago violates prohibitions against having districts of unequal populations. They expect federal courts to draw what’s known as a “least changed map” that alters boundaries due to population shifts — but keeps the map somewhat similar to the current one.
When asked if he was worried about a federal court ending up drawing a map, Ashcroft said, “I’m actually not concerned about that.”
“The United States Supreme Court has been very clear that federal courts should not be required to draw new maps,” Ashcroft said. “Why? Because they’re afraid it will cause confusion and difficulties running the election well. We are at that point now.”
Ashcroft said he didn’t speak out earlier because, among other things, letters were sent to lawmakers in January outlining “the dates we needed to be able to close our voter registration system to make sure this went” smoothly.
“And I have communicated these concerns to the legislators more in a private manner, because I didn’t want to be confrontational about it,” Ashcroft said. “I know that leadership was told very clearly by the [county clerks] a week or two weeks ago it’s too late. And when it looked like it was going to continue, I had to stand up for the local election authorities.”
Ashcroft, a Republican, was a proponent of creating a map likely to elect seven Republicans and one Democrat — a proposal that has run into bipartisan opposition in the Missouri General Assembly. If lawmakers don’t pass a map, it’s likely that the end result will help Democrats — because either a 2011 map or a slightly altered plan would keep the 2nd Congressional District competitive.
“I think the data would suggest that it’s better for Democrats to stay with the 2020 (election) map and use that in 2022 than for a Republican-controlled legislature to make a more pro-Republican map,” Ashcroft said. “I want voters to know with certainty that they will be able to vote. They’ll know who to vote on — and their vote will count.”"
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