Common Cause NC Responds to Greensboro Redistricting Ruling

On Thursday, a federal Judge blocked the legislature’s controversial redistricting plan for the Greensboro City Council. The decision came after the City of Greensboro and residents there filed suit against the law.

In addition to radically changing Greensboro’s local voting maps, the law singled out that city by making it the only municipality in North Carolina barred from updating its districts in the future. The ruling this week prevents the law from taking effect until a full trial is held in 2017.

The following is a statement from Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, in response to the Greensboro redistricting decision.

“We agree with the court’s finding that this ill-conceived law unfairly targeted the City of Greensboro and would have harmed its residents if left in place. We further agree with Gov. Pat McCrory that the process by which the legislature passed this law was shameful.

“While this court ruling is a victory for supporters of government transparency and fair elections, the only lasting remedy to political gerrymandering is to enact independent redistricting for North Carolina.”