BY JOSEPH BUSTOS

COLUMBIA, S.C. The American Civil Liberties Union and League of Woman Voters are trying again to have the state’s congressional map redrawn. The ACLU of South Carolina and the League of Women Voters have sued the state over the state’s congressional partisan gerrymander, specifically in the 1st Congressional District.

The ACLU previously sued over the state’s congressional map saying it was an illegally gerrymandered on racial basis. However, the state argued it was a partisan gerrymander.The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the map saying it is difficult to untangle partisan and racial alliances in South Carolina. South Carolina’s constitution says “all elections shall be free and open, and every inhabitant of this state possessing the qualifications provided for in this Constitution shall have an equal right to elect officers and be elected to fill public office.”

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The ACLU and the League of Woman Voters wants the state Supreme Court to take up this case, as opposed to going to starting with a lower court or going through the federal court system.

“South Carolina’s Constitution protects its citizens’ right to exercise equal influence over our elections,” said Lynn Teague, vice president for Issues and Action of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina. “We are asking the court to establish redistricting standards consistent with our Constitution. Our political process must not become one that only preserves the power of those already in office, but the rights of the people.”

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