Earlier this week, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Rochester Congressman and former New York State Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle will spearhead the New York Democracy Project, the latest salvo in the redistricting saga.
The project comes after a Supreme Court ruling further narrowed the scope of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act. Since the ruling both Republican and Democratic states have moved toward mid-decade redistricting as each party tries to get an advantage in this year’s midterm elections.
In New York, an amendment to the state Constitution would need to be passed to get any redistricting changes through which would not happen before the 2026 midterm elections. An amendment must pass in two separately elected state legislatures and then be approved in a vote by the public.
Morelle joined Capital Tonight to discuss the process on Wednesday.
