Supreme Court Affirms That Everyone Counts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2016

CONTACT
Juan Gastelum, [email protected], 213-375-3149

Supreme Court Affirms That Everyone Counts

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Texas’ voting district apportioning system, ensuring that all people are counted for districting purposes regardless of their age or where they were born. In a unanimous decision, the Court rejected the plaintiffs’ claim that only those eligible to vote should be considered. Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center issued the following statement in response to the decision. The National Immigration Law Center joined a coalition of civil rights organizations in filing an amicus curiae brief in support of Texas in Evenwel v. Abbott:

“The Supreme Court today issued a powerful reminder that our elected officials represent all of us, regardless of whether we can vote. This unanimous decision puts to rest claims by conservative ideologues’ years-long attack on the most vulnerable members of our community, all of whom deserve representation, even if they cannot vote for those who represent them.

“Today’s decision correctly recognizes that counting every person when apportioning comports with the democratic goals asserted in the constitution. This is a great victory for children too young to vote, immigrants who contribute to our communities but cannot join us in the voting booth, or those unfairly stripped of their voting rights, and will allow these individuals to have appropriate representation. One person, one vote is at the core of our democracy.”

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