North Dakota Seeks to Use Former Legislative Map While Voting Rights Case Proceeds

(Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – The state of North Dakota urged the U.S. Supreme Court to let it use its preferred legislative district map after an appellate court found a federal judge was wrong to change the district lines last year.

Attorneys for the state argued that courts have allowed private plaintiffs to challenge and destabilize state district maps for too long.

“Redistricting in a world where well-funded private plaintiffs can induce federal courts to strike down state maps based on theories like those that were asserted in this case becomes nearly impossible,” the state wrote in a filing.

North Dakota’s request concerns a lawsuit brought by the Spirit Lake Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and three tribal citizens that claims a redistricting plan adopted by the North Dakota Legislature in 2021 violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the power of Native American voters. The state denies these allegations.