Federal Judge Orders New North Dakota Legislative District for Native American Tribes, Citing Voting Rights Violation
BISMARCK, N.D. — A federal judge has ordered a new joint legislative district in North Dakota for two Native American tribes. The tribes argued that the 2021 redistricting map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting their voting strength. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter Welte made the decision to create a new map after ruling in November that the original map prevented Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. The judge had given North Dakota Republican Secretary of State Michael Howe and the GOP-controlled Legislature until December … Read more