South Dakota: bill would allow mid-decade redistricting after lawsuit
AP reports: Emergency legislation that would allow county commissioners to redraw the boundaries of their districts was introduced and passed within minutes Wednesday by the South Dakota House.
Rep. Thomas Deadrick, R-Platte, said HB1265 is needed because of a federal lawsuit that was filed last month by the American Civil Liberties Union against Charles Mix County. ACLU alleges that commissioner districts in the county illegally dilute the voting strength of American Indians, he said.
The districts have not been redrawn since 1950, Deadrick said.
Should the county be found in violation of state or federal redistricting laws, existing state law does not provide for emergency redistricting, he said. County redistricting is only permitted once a decade, Deadrick said, and the next time Charles Mix County could redraw its voting boundaries is 2012. -- AP Wire | 02/23/2005 | County redistricting bill offered