Texas Scorecard by Jim Ellis April 28, 2020
Commentary: COVID & Redistricting
If the March 31 deadline for the release of new census data is postponed to the summer of 2021, we will see a series of redistricting problems ignited in the states.The deadline for the Census Bureau to release the new population data is March 31st of 2021 but, with the entire process being delayed due to COVID-19 precautions, the ability to meet the requirement is becoming more difficult by the day. Already, the Bureau has been delayed in dispatching their door-to-door teams necessary in obtaining the responses from people who did not return their mail tabulation form.
The Trump administration is reportedly suggesting that the 3/31 deadline be postponed to sometime in the summer of 2021. If this happens, we will see a series of redistricting problems ignited in the states. First, the political leaders in New Jersey and Virginia, places that have 2021 elections and need their new state legislative lines in place well before that date, would find themselves in a difficult position.
Initially, the two states would certainly have to postpone their primary elections because both nominate their general election candidates in June. Beyond that, it is possible they would have to even postpone their general elections into 2020 or run in the obsolete boundaries that were drawn back in 2011. In either case, we could expect lawsuits being launched from whichever party loses a particular electoral contest.
Other states would be affected, too. Many have legal deadlines in place mandating that the new redistricting maps for state legislature and the U.S. House delegation be adopted before the legislative sessions ends. Most states recess before mid-summer, which would mean special sessions being called if the legislature is to act.
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/commentary/commentary-covid-redistricting/
