A coalition of civil liberties groups sued the Republican-controlled Legislature in Nassau County in New York, claiming that a new voting map discriminates against Blacks, Latinos, and Asians in violation of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
The suit, filed Feb. 8 against the Long Island suburb, claims the current redistricting map was gerrymandered by the Nassau County Legislature to deprive communities of color, prompting the legal action to ensure a fair process in the upcoming presidential election.
The action was joined by the New York Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the Steptoe law firm in Washington, which has been widely praised in the past for its pro bono work.
The legal case cites breaches of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, as well as the New York Municipal Home Rule law, particularly in areas of the county that have been plagued by decades of housing discrimination, inadequate public transportation, and overlapping public services.
Previously, the plaintiffs notified the Legislature in December, allowing the body 50 days to fix the violations, but the Legislature refused to cooperate.
“The Nassau County Legislature has had ample opportunity to draw a fair and equitable map, yet it has chosen to stand by its egregious racial gerrymander in violation of multiple state laws,” said Ronak Patel, a legal fellow at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. “This suit will correct the Legislature’s failure and ensure that communities of color, including the rapidly growing Asian American community of Greater New Hyde Park, have an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process.”
The gerrymandering allegations are the latest to emerge nationally after many states were required to redraw congressional districts to reflect population changes from the 2020 Census.
The case against…
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