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AP18:103

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2018
Contact:
Sam Mahood
(916) 653-6575

Secretary of State Alex Padilla Statement on Texas Redistricting Decision

SACRAMENTO - California Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued the following statement on the US Supreme Court's ruling in Abbott v. Perez upholding Texas' congressional and legislative district maps.

"Five years ago today, in Shelby v. Holder, the United States Supreme Court dismantled Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, a fundamental pillar of voting rights protections. Today's ruling is yet another blow to voting rights by making it more difficult to stop racial gerrymandering. Especially troubling is the claim by Justices Gorsuch and Thomas that the Voting Rights Act should not apply to redistricting."

"California has shown a better way. California’s independent redistricting commission is a model for transparency and the creation of fair districts. We must prioritize redistricting reform if we want to maintain fairness in the political process.”

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