A Florida redistricting plan pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis violates the state constitution and is prohibited from being used for any future U.S. congressional elections since it diminishes the ability of Black voters in north Florida to pick a representative of their choice, a state judge ruled Saturday.
Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh sent the plan back to the Florida Legislature with instructions that lawmakers should draw a new congressional map that complies with the Florida Constitution.
The voting rights groups that challenged the plan in court “have shown that the enacted plan results in the diminishment of Black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice in violation of the Florida Constitution,” Marsh wrote.
Judge: “Submit fair maps to the court by x date. If you can’t manage that, we’ll let the opposition decide what’s fair, and go with their map.”
Case closed. This is an effective solution no matter who is in charge.
That’s obviously an oversimplification, but nothing motivates people like the fear of benefitting their enemies.