South Carolina lawmakers rejected a national redistricting push by voting down a proposed map redraw in the state Senate. The effort followed weeks of hearings and debate and sought to help Republicans flip a seat held by Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn. The proposal would have made all seven congressional districts lean Republican and expanded the GOP advantage in the national redistricting race. Early voting in the June 9 primary began Tuesday morning, and some Republican senators cited the timing and process. Procedural votes failed to end debate and bring the bill to a final vote. Republicans opposing the measure argued that changing district lines could disenfranchise voters. The Senate is not up for election this year.
"A move to bring the bill to a vote failed in the Senate when 12 Republicans joined 12 Democrats on a key procedural vote to block the 26 votes needed to end debate and bring up a vote on the bill. A second procedural vote fell even more short. The state senate is not up for election this year Several Republicans moved to the opposition saying that changing the map could disenfranchise some voters."
"Early voting in the June 9 primary had started Tuesday morning and was one factor some Republican senators cited for opposing the redistricting, which had dragged on through weeks of on-and-off debate. Around 26,000 cast ballots within the first several hours of polls opening, putting Tuesday on track to break early primary voting records."
"Republican state Sen. Richard Cash echoed that concern from the floor Tuesday and said time had run out. "Voting has begun, it is time to conclude the matter," Cash said. "I know there's going to be a lot of anger and frustration that we did not get the job done. I get it. Many of us are also frustrated and disappointed at what is a very unsatisfying outcome.""
Read at www.npr.org
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]