The Supreme Court's decision will make it harder for a state's dominant political party to gerrymander district voting maps to lock in control.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against North Carolina’s Republican leaders, saying state lawmakers do not have sole authority to set rules for federal elections without interference from state judges., written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., rejected the GOP claim that state legislatures make the rules alone.
Usually disputes over state election laws are resolved by state judges and the state supreme court. Until recently, it was understood that the state supreme court had the final word on state laws. The Constitution has a similar provision for electing the president. It says “each state shall appoint” the electors who choose the president “in such manner as the Legislature may direct.”
Democrats and many election law experts voiced alarm that if the Supreme Court upheld the Republicans’ claim that state legislatures had “independent” authority over elections, GOP lawmakers might select a slate of Republican electors even if the Democratic candidate prevailed in a close race.
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