We challenged the legislature’s extreme gerrymandering – and we won our case! In a historic ruling this February, the North Carolina Supreme Court struck down gerrymandered voting districts and ordered new maps drawn for the 2022 election.
With its historic ruling, the NC Supreme Court set a clear and undeniable precedent: partisan gerrymandering is illegal in North Carolina. That is a true victory for the people of our state.
The NC Supreme Court’s landmark decision in our case will guide future rounds of redistricting by outlawing partisan gerrymandering. We are committed to ensuring map-drawers abide by the high court’s precedent for years to come.
Even with this historic court victory, more work is needed to end racist and partisan gerrymandering in North Carolina.
We must break the cycle of partisan legislators trying to rig our maps. To achieve an end to gerrymandering, we need to enact lasting reform. We should permanently take redistricting power out of the hands of politicians and entrust it with an impartial citizens commission for any map drawing moving forward, making sure districts are created with robust public input and full transparency, completely free from gerrymandering.
As we carry on the mission of building an inclusive democracy for all, our work continues with absolute dedication to ensure every North Carolina voter has an equal voice in choosing their representatives and holding elected officials accountable.
Learn more about our historic case against gerrymandering with the links below.
NEW: U.S. Supreme Court Takes Case Threatening Future of Voting Rights
June 30, 2022 – The U.S. Supreme Court decided it will hear oral arguments during the October 2022 term in North Carolina’s consolidated Congressional gerrymandering case. The case, Moore v. Harper, advances a dangerous legal theory which would allow state legislatures to restrict the freedom to vote and fair elections with impunity.
Mar. 7, 2022 – In a victory for the rule of law and North Carolina voters, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by legislative defendants to throw out the state’s new expert-drawn Congressional map.
Mar. 2, 2022 – The Southern Coalition for Social Justice and pro bono counsel with Hogan Lovells, on behalf of plaintiff Common Cause, asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to deny a request by legislative defendants to throw out a new expert-drawn Congressional map.
DRA analysis of court-approved remedial maps
Feb. 25, 2022 – In order to further public transparency about redistricting in North Carolina and allow for public review, Common Cause has uploaded remedial maps approved by the state court into Dave’s Redistricting Application (DRA). This information is provided for public education only, and the analysis here reflects that generated by the DRA program and does not constitute an opinion on or endorsement of these maps by Common Cause.
SCSJ, Common Cause Appeal Unconstitutional NC State Legislative Maps
Feb. 23, 2022 – Common Cause has filed an appeal with the North Carolina Supreme Court to challenge gerrymandered state legislative districts.
SCSJ, Common Cause Respond to Discriminatory Remedial Maps
Feb. 21, 2022 – Common Cause has filed objections with the court against the legislature’s new gerrymandered districts. We’re asking the court to correct the legislature’s failure to comply with the North Carolina Constitution in crafting new voting maps.
Trial court order on submission of remedial maps (issued Feb. 8)
VICTORY: We’ve won our case against gerrymandering!
Feb. 4, 2022 – In a 4-3 decision, North Carolina’s Supreme Court threw out the state’s congressional and legislative maps late Friday, calling the maps “unconstitutional beyond a reasonable doubt” and requiring lawmakers to redraw maps that avoid diluting Black representation. Read more
NEW: Read the NC Supreme Court’s full opinion in our case (issued Feb. 14)
The NC Supreme Court will hear our case on February 2
On Wednesday, February 2 at 9:30 a.m., the NC Supreme Court will hear our case against gerrymandering.
You can watch the hearing on the NC Supreme Court YouTube channel
Related documents:
Common Cause brief to the NC Supreme Court
Amicus brief from Governor Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein
Amicus brief from Buncombe County Board of Commissioners
Amicus brief from Campaign Legal Center
Amicus brief from Professor Charles Fried
SCSJ, Common Cause to appeal ‘disappointing’ NC redistricting ruling
(Jan. 11, 2022) A three-judge panel upheld North Carolina lawmakers’ partisan gerrymanders Tuesday despite calling them “a result of intentional, pro-Republican partisan redistricting,” in a case consisting of three consolidated challenges to the states’ 2021 enacted voting maps: North Carolina League of Conservation Voters et al. v. Hall, Harper et al. v. Hall and Common Cause v. Hall.
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), which represented plaintiff Common Cause alongside pro bono counsel from law firm Hogan Lovells, immediately responded to the ruling, calling it “disappointing” — but vowed to appeal to the state Supreme Court.
WATCH: Day 4 of our gerrymandering trial in North Carolina
Our gerrymandering case resumes its trial on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 9:00 a.m. before a three-judge panel in Wake County Superior Court. Watch on WRAL.com
WATCH: Day 3 of our gerrymandering trial in North Carolina
Our gerrymandering case resumes its trial on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 8:30 a.m. before a three-judge panel in Wake County Superior Court. Watch on WRAL.com
WATCH: Day 2 of our gerrymandering trial in North Carolina
Our gerrymandering case resumes its trial on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 9:00 a.m. before a three-judge panel in Wake County Superior Court. Watch on WRAL.com
WATCH: Day 1 of our gerrymandering trial in North Carolina
Our gerrymandering case begins its trial on Monday, Jan. 3 at 9:00 a.m. before a three-judge panel in Wake County Superior Court. Watch on WRAL.com
Common Cause joins NC redistricting case to challenge gerrymandered maps’ impact on Black voters
Our crucial fight against gerrymandering continues in court. Read more
The Legislature’s deeply flawed redistricting fails the people of North Carolina
“We are profoundly concerned that the legislature’s deeply flawed redistricting process has produced deeply flawed voting maps,” said Bob Phillips of Common Cause NC. “We are troubled that these districts would especially hurt Black voters, harmfully split communities and undermine the freedom of North Carolinians to have a voice in choosing their representatives. Our state deserves better.” Read more
What is gerrymandering?
Every 10 years, North Carolina’s congressional and legislative voting districts are redrawn to account for population changes shown in the latest U.S. census. That’s called redistricting.
But when politicians abuse redistricting and manipulate our voting maps to unfairly cling to their power, that’s called gerrymandering. For decades, politicians have gerrymandered our voting maps in North Carolina.
Gerrymandering threatens our democracy, and especially hurts Black and brown voters in North Carolina, as politicians split up communities, divide neighbors and undermine our freedom to choose our representatives.
We must stand up, speak out and demand fair voting maps for all people, completely free from gerrymandering.