In a landmark decision, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled Friday that partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional under the Alaska Constitution’s equal protection doctrine.
, the board approved an interim map last year for the November’s general election that kept Eagle River intact in one Senate district.
Alaska Federation of Natives attorney Nicole Borromeo, who was in the minority of board members opposed to giving Eagle River two Senate seats, warned at the time that a court would likely rule that was partisan gerrymandering. In an interview Friday, she said she supported the interim map because it comported with the constitution, but she was interested in hearing if other board members wanted to reopen the map for additional drafting.
Kendall said the court’s reading of the equal protection doctrine meant that there would effectively need to be a level-playing field between communities. Maps could not be drawn to give more political power to residents of Eagle River over those of Muldoon, he said, referring to one map struck down by the court.that partisan redistricting was a political matter and beyond the reach of federal courts.
Redrawing the state’s political map is constitutionally required to take place every 10 years after the release of U.S. Census data, so that population changes are accurately reflected in new boundaries for 40 state House districts and 20 Senate districts. Begich said to his knowledge, that was clearest prohibition against partisan gerrymandering issued by any state supreme court.
The state redistricting board has five members who are appointed to serve until a final map has been approved. Two members are appointed by the governor, and one each are appointed by the House speaker, the Senate president and the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court.
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