The case is Moore vs. Harper, an appeal by North Carolina Republicans from a ruling by the state supreme court striking down a Congressional redistricting map as unconstitutional under North Carolina’s constitution. The appellant Republicans argue that under the bizarre “independent state legislature theory,” the state legislature has sole, and total control over all electoral activity in the state, while the executive, judiciary and even the voters, have none. Republican-controlled state legislatures, who already have come close to practical permanent control of many states by political gerrymandering, a practice protected by the US Supreme Court. If they are given this power, the Republican minority can quite legally establish itself as the permanent ruling party simply by ignoring the outcome of elections and appointing Republican electors every four years. Furthermore, this will also guarantee that future Supreme Court appointees will continue to make whatever decisions are needed to keep the Republican minority in power.

Source: Washington Post July 03, 2022 21:10 UTC