State Court of Appeals rejects new congressional, state Senate district lines

The Court of Appeals sided with Republican voters who said the new boundaries were deemed unconstitutional, and that proper procedure was not followed in approving the maps. The new lines proposed were seen by many as heavily favoring Democrats.

News 12 Staff

Apr 27, 2022, 9:37 PM

Updated 899 days ago

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The New York State Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected the new congressional and state senate district lines, meaning new maps will need to be drawn and that June’s primary election may be delayed.
The Court of Appeals sided with Republican voters who said the new boundaries were deemed unconstitutional, and that proper procedure was not followed in approving the maps. The new lines proposed were seen by many as heavily favoring Democrats.
In the 78-page recommendation, the court rejected arguments that this year's election process was too far along to start over with new lines. The primary election scheduled for June 23 is less than two months from now.
There is talk among constituents that it will likely be necessary to move the congressional and Senate primary elections to August.
“Well, at the time that came out I was meeting with Holocaust survivors,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul. “So, you need to give me a little bit of time to review it and then we will have a statement prepared.”
The federal and state primaries were separate from 2012 until 2020.
The Director of Public Information for the State Board of Elections issued the following statement Wednesday regarding the Court of Appeals’ decision in the Harkenrider v. Hochul case.
“The attorneys for the State Board of Elections are reviewing today’s decision by the Court of Appeals in the Harkenrider v. Hochul case. The State Board staff stands ready to assist the Supreme Court in any way we are called upon to quickly develop a new Political Calendar for an August primary for the state Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. We do not foresee the June 28th primary changing for our statewide offices, the State Assembly, Judicial Delegates and Alternates and any local offices that are scheduled to be on the primary ballot. Whatever adjustments need to be made to the ballot access process for candidates for Congress and State Senate for a new primary will be proposed to the court. We will do everything in our power to inform the electorate to ensure a fair and accurate election for the voters of New York.”