Attorney General Becerra Joins Amicus Brief to Defend Voters from Extreme Partisan Gerrymandering

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra yesterday joined a coalition of 18 states in filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court to support voters’ rights. In Gill v. Whitford, the Court will decide the constitutionality of Wisconsin’s redistricting plan, which was designed to ensure that the party drawing the district lines would control the legislature even when that party did not win the majority of votes. The amicus brief explains that drawing voting districts for the sole purpose of maintaining one-party control is unconstitutional and undermines the integrity and fairness of our election processes.

“Depriving voters of their equal and fair opportunity to participate in our elections is un-American and wrong,” said Attorney General Becerra. “I am joining my fellow attorneys general in filing this amicus brief to protect voters and ensure their voices are heard. A vote is a voice. And in America, every voice should have the opportunity to be equally heard. Drawing biased voting districts to maintain political control discourages voters from engaging in our political processes.”

Attorney General Becerra joins the Attorney General of Oregon together with the attorneys general of Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia.

A copy of yesterday’s brief is attached to the electronic version of this release at www.oag.ca.gov/news.