NAACP files emergency petition to block Tennessee’s newly approved redistricting plan
The group says the map was drawn outside the census cycle and could confuse voters and election officials ahead of the 2026 primaries.
- On Thursday, the NAACP Tennessee State Conference filed an emergency petition in Davidson County Chancery Court to block Tennessee's newly signed congressional map. Governor Bill Lee signed the plan into law following a special legislative session.
- Challenging the mid-decade redistricting, the NAACP argues Tennessee law prohibits changing congressional districts between census apportionments, which occur every 10 years. The new map redraws Shelby County, home to Memphis, into three Republican-controlled districts.
- Asserting that lawmakers exceeded the authority outlined in Lee's special session proclamation, the lawsuit also challenges legislation suspending residency requirements for congressional candidates. The group claims this action creates confusion for voters and strains election officials.
- Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced Thursday that revised maps are now in effect, opening a special qualifying period for congressional candidates through May 15. The NAACP seeks to declare the maps invalid.
- Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last week that weakened Voting Rights Act protections, Tennessee is the first state to pass new districts. Republicans estimate they could gain 14 seats, while Democrats anticipate up to 10.
11 Articles
11 Articles
NAACP files emergency petition to block Tennessee’s newly approved redistricting plan
The NAACP on Thursday filed an emergency petition to block Tennessee’s attempt to remove the only majority Black congressional district in the state, which the organization argues violates the state constitution. Filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, the emergency petition urged Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) and the state legislature to not enact the new…
Daily Post-Athenian
NAACP Tennessee files lawsuit challenging redrawn US House district map
The NAACP’s Tennessee chapter filed a lawsuit Thursday afternoon challenging the legality of the state’s brand new congressional map, redrawn to eliminate a majority-Black voting district. NAACP Tennessee President Gloria Sweet-Love filed an emergency petition to stop the map from…
NAACP files emergency petition against Gov. Bill Lee, TN General Assembly over congressional redistricting
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Tennessee State Conference (NAACP Tennessee) has filed an emergency petition against Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly over the congressional redistricting that was passed and adopted Thursday.
NAACP goes to court over Tennessee redistricting
Not long after Tennessee’s new congressional map became law, the NAACP Tennessee State Conference sued in state court asserting that the mid-decade redistricting is illegal. The NAACP is arguing that the governor’s call for the special session did not specifically empower lawmakers to act in the ways they did. In particular, Republicans repealed a state law governing when redistricting can happen to allow the subsequent mapping that occurred thi…
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