October 16, 2015 5:21 PM

Plaintiffs file injunction to keep House, Congressional maps out of 2016 election cycle

“We contend these maps intentionally discriminate, and we’re still waiting for the court to rule on our issues.”

Plaintiffs in the long-standing challenge to Texas redistricting maps this week requested an injunction for the 2016 election cycle. Early voting in the November election starts on Monday, but, more importantly, qualifying candidates for the spring primaries begins on Nov. 14.

The plaintiffs are asking for an injunction of the maps on a number of grounds: The court-created maps violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, especially as it pertains to the Latino vote in Congressional District 23. The maps should be bailed in under Section 3 of the Voting Rights Act because of evidence of racial bias offered during the original trial. A third round of elections under the current maps would prove substantial and irreparable harm to minority voters. And the perceived harm to minority voters outweighs the cost to the state, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued.

“We know as people of color everywhere, we have to fight for many of our rights and especially our voting rights,” Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, said at last Saturday’s Latino Summit. “Based on the litigation in our state, especially in our district courts and in our federal courts, we know that there are current pending cases that could have significant consequences on the Latino community.”

By Kimberly Reeves