NYS Court of Appeals Strikes Down Gerrymandered Congressional and State Senate Maps

The New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, voted 4-3 to strike down the Congressional and Senate maps which were formulated by the state legislature. The majority of the court ruled the maps were unconstitutional because they were designed to favor candidates from the Democrat Party.

In its ruling, the court ordered the maps not to be used in the upcoming primaries and election, rejecting the suggestion of the legislature that they be used this one time because the election process is already underway. “We reject this invitation to subject the People of this state to an election pursuant to an unconstitutional reapportionment.”

The court stated that the special master designated by the Supreme Court (lowest court) will come up with new maps and not the state legislature.

In addition, the New York State primaries will “likely be necessary” to be moved to August in order to allow time for the maps to be redone.

Maps for the New York State Senate, however, were enacted by the court.