Biden’s DOJ seeks dismissal of GOP election lawsuit.

The Battle Over State Legislature Power in Federal Elections

The Biden administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to dismiss a high-profile case that could have major implications for voting rights. Republicans are arguing that state legislatures have the power to regulate federal elections without interference from state courts, citing the independent state legislature doctrine. Democrats are pushing back, saying this conservative legal theory could lead to partisan gerrymandering and disrupt the electoral process.

The Moore v. Harper Case

At the center of this debate is the case of Moore v. Harper, which is currently being deliberated by the justices. Republican Tim Moore, the speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, is appealing an order by the state’s Supreme Court that redrew the electoral map against the wishes of the Republican-majority legislature. The state court found that the map unlawfully favored the Republican Party.

However, while the U.S. Supreme Court was deliberating the case, the Supreme Court of North Carolina, which now has a Republican majority, decided to rehear the underlying case. They overruled themselves on April 28, stating that the General Assembly has sole authority over the redistricting process and that courts should not meddle in policy matters.

The Future of Voting Rights

This case is not just about partisan politics, but about the proper roles of the judicial and legislative branches. The U.S. Supreme Court has asked for supplemental briefs on how to proceed, and the outcome could have major implications for voting rights and the electoral process. It remains to be seen how the court will rule, but this case highlights the ongoing battle over state legislature power in federal elections.

• Republicans: argue that state legislatures have the power to regulate federal elections without interference from state courts
• Democrats: push back, saying this conservative legal theory could lead to partisan gerrymandering and disrupt the electoral process
• Moore v. Harper: Republican Tim Moore is appealing an order by the state’s Supreme Court that redrew the electoral map against the wishes of the Republican-majority legislature
• The Future: the outcome of this case could have major implications for voting rights and the electoral process