In a significant legal breakthrough, a judge invalidated a new Florida election map supported by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis; the judge found the map violated the state Constitution by limiting options for African-American voters and banned its use in the upcoming election.
State Magistrate J. Lee Marsh, presiding over Leon County, has ordered Florida lawmakers to create a new electoral map that aligns with the state Constitution.
The map enacted last year was found to reduce the chances of African-American voters to select their preferred candidates, as reported by The New York Times.
The lawsuit, brought by voting rights groups, revolves around the former fifth electoral district in the northern part of Florida. This district, which stretches from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, had 46% African-American voters and consistently chose Democratic Congressman Al Lawson in the 2016, 2018 and 2020 elections.
Under the recently approved map, this district was divided into four smaller districts, altering the proportion of African American voters. In the 2022 election, each of these districts elected white Republican representatives, resulting in Lawson’s defeat.
Governor Ron DeSantis played a significant role in shaping the new electoral map. In March of the previous year, he vetoed the configuration approved by the state House of Representatives and Senate, which had been maintained by the Lawson district. Subsequently, he called a special legislative session, during which his own map was adopted.
Following the judge’s ruling issued on Saturday, this case is expected to eventually reach the state Supreme Court. It is worth noting that this court is currently dominated by judges appointed by Governor DeSantis himself, which adds an additional layer of complexity to this legal battle.
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