Judge orders new North Dakota legislative district for 2 Native American tribes
A federal judge has ordered a new legislative district for two Native American tribes who successfully challenged North Dakota’s 2021 redistricting map as violating the Voting Rights Act in diluting Native American voters’ strength
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday ordered a new joint North Dakota legislative district for two Native American tribes that successfully argued a map created through redistricting in 2021 violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting their voting strength.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter Welte's decision to adopt and implement a new map comes after a flurry of court filings in the lawsuit since his Nov. 17 ruling that the state's 2021 redistricting map “prevents Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”
The judge had given North Dakota Republican Secretary of State Michael Howe and the GOP-controlled Legislature until Dec. 22 “to adopt a plan to remedy the violation.” The deadline passed with no new map as Howe and lawmakers sought a delay of the judge's ruling and more time to respond.
Welte said the new map "requires changes to only three districts and is the least intrusive option that complies with the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution."
