N.C. electoral map to be used in midterms despite being ruled unconstitutional

A court on Tuesday said there was not enough time to redraw a North Carolina redistricting map that had been ruled unconstitutional last month, meaning the map will still be used in the 2018 midterm elections.

“Having carefully reviewed the parties’ briefing and supporting materials, we conclude that there is insufficient time for this Court to approve a new districting plan and for the State to conduct an election using that plan prior to the seating of the new Congress in January 2019,” the court ruling said, according to CNN.

“And we further find that imposing a new schedule for North Carolina’s congressional elections would, at this late juncture, unduly interfere with the State’s electoral machinery and likely confuse voters and depress turnout,” it added.

{mosads}The same federal court had ruled in late August that the map unconstitutionally favored Republicans.

Conservatives had previously voiced concerns that the court’s decision finding the map to be unconstitutional came too close to Election Day.

“What the court suggests is simply impossible,” state House Speaker Tim Moore (R) and Senate President Phil Berger (R) said in a joint statement following the court’s ruling.

“The result would be unmitigated chaos and irreparable voter confusion,” the two legislators added. “The Supreme Court must step in to correct this disastrous decision.”

President Trump also ripped the ruling in a speech at a GOP fundraising event.

“No, it’s very unfair to have an election in less than 60 days and they change the district on you? And you’ve already won primaries? How does that work?” Trump said.