SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Sept. 6 that he has joined a coalition of 18 states and the District of Columbia in supporting voters rights in the Gill v. Whitford case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case involves the constitutionality of Wisconsin’s redistricting plan. According to Becerra’s office, the plan was designed to ensure that whichever party drew the lines would control the legislature even if it failed to win a majority of votes.
The coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the case, claiming the plan violates the constitution and undermines the election process.
“Depriving voters of their equal and fair opportunity to participate in our elections is un-American and wrong,” Becerra said.
“I am joining my fellow attorneys general in filing this amicus brief to protect voters and ensure their voices are heard. A vote is a voice. And in America, every voice should have the opportunity to be equally heard. Drawing biased voting districts to maintain political control discourages voters from engaging in our political processes.”
Other states involves in the case are Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.