Daily Docket — Monday, Jan. 30

Today, Democracy Docket published a report that summarizes and analyzes all of the redistricting litigation we’ve seen since the release of 2020 census data. We highlight the trends that emerged in these lawsuits, including the number and kinds of challenges, which lawsuits influenced the maps used in the 2022 elections and the impact of redistricting reforms.

Here are some updates from the past few days.

• South Carolina Republicans appealed a federal court decision that struck down the state's 1st Congressional District for racial gerrymandering to the U.S. Supreme Court. Unlike most lawsuits, the Supreme Court is required to accept the appeal and issue a final decision on the merits.

• The Arizona Republican Party and its chair appealed their lawsuit seeking to end no-excuse mail-in voting to the Arizona Supreme Court after lower courts repeatedly rejected it.

• The Arizona Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit brought by self-proclaimed “civil rights” lawyer Ryan Heath against Judge Peter A. Thompson in Maricopa County. Heath’s petition asked that Thompson be forced to void his order that dismissed failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s (R) election contest challenging Gov. Katie Hobbs’ (D) win.

• In a report to the Florida Department of State, a group of county election supervisors urged the state to roll back new mail-in ballot ID requirements enacted as part of a voter suppression law enacted in April 2022.

• Ohio organizations filed an amended complaint challenging Ohio's omnibus voter suppression law House Bill 458, adding claims against the law's restrictions on drop boxes and prohibition of in-person voting the day before Election Day.

• New Mexico Democrats introduced House Bill 4, the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, an omnibus pro-voting bill that floundered last year. The bill would establish automatic voter registration, restore the right to vote to formerly incarcerated individuals, expand access to drop boxes and more.

• A New Hampshire court held a hearing on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against a law that requires voters who register for the first time on Election Day and lack a photo ID to cast an affidavit ballot. These ballots won’t count unless the voters provide acceptable ID later on. A decision from the court on the motion is forthcoming.

Here are some updates from the past few days.

• Yesterday on Democracy Docket, Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino, wrote about what 2022 means for winning the Latino vote in 2024.

• In the latest episode of Defending Democracy, which was released on Friday morning, Marc and Paige discussed North Carolina Republicans’ latest move to undermine democracy and rule of law in the Tar Heel State.

Can’t get enough news? You can always find more details about these updates on our News Alerts page.

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