Gerrymandering/Redistricting

New York election officials must reword a November ballot question on the creation of a redistricting commission to avoid misleading voters into thinking it would be independent, a state judge ruled Wednesday.

In a strongly worded decision (attached), Albany Supreme Court Judge Patrick McGrath ruled unequivocally that the proposed redistricting commission: "cannot be described as 'independent' when eight out of the ten members are the handpicked appointees of the legislative leaders and the two additional members are essentially political appointees by proxy".

Could members of the Cuomo administration be up to the same mischief they engaged in last year when seeking permission to expand legalized gambling? A government watchdog group suspects so.

Common Cause-New York seeks to reword the referendum, which critics say is misleading and could confuse voters into thinking they're voting for an independent redistricting commission.

Common Cause/NY is leading a lawsuit appealing the state Board of Elections' approved ballot language on the November ballot to establish a redistricting commission.

Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause NY, is one of four plaintiffs in a lawsuit opposing the language of the ballot proposal that will ask voters if they want to amend the state constitution to overhaul the current redistricting system.