A report is taking a closer look at how states across the country are managing redistricting policies, and it shows the battleground state of Arizona has done O.K. overall. The national watchdog group Common Cause gives Arizona a "B minus" for the work the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission has achieved in drawing congressional and state legislative maps, but adds it is not a reason for the commission to get complacent. .
Michigan lawmakers are set to consider a new Voting Rights Act for the state by next week. Introduced in June, Senate Bills 401, 402, 403 and 404 aim to counter voter suppression, safeguard voting rights and ensure future access to the ballot. Paula Bowman, co-president of the Michigan chapter of the League of Women Voters, noted the diminishing influence of the national Voting Rights Act and anticipated strengths in Michigan s voting protections. .
Idaho received a poor grade in a recent report analyzing redistricting in the state, but it has made the process fairer than many other states. The nonpartisan elections watchdog Common Cause gives Idaho a grade of D for its process of redrawing voting district lines, which happens when states receive census data and use it to map the borders of legislative districts. Elinor Chehey, vice president of the League of Women Voters of Idaho, noted one positive feature of redistricting in the state is its use of an independent commission. .