Progress NC Action Hosts Gerrymandering Poll Briefing: “NC Voters Support Courts”

Earlier this month Progress NC Action released a poll detailing North Carolinians’ feelings on partisan gerrymandering, and the role of the judicial branch in protecting free and fair elections. Progress NC Action, which is a research group actively working to build a dialogue between North Carolinians, elected officials, and progressive organizations, later held a panel discussion analyzing the results of the poll. 

Jess Jollett, the executive director of Progress NC Action hosted the panel discussion. Jollett was joined by Edwin Speas, a legal expert on the judiciary’s role in elections, Jim Williams, who conducted the poll through the organization Public Policy Polling, and Melissa Price Kromm from North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections. Before the panel discussion, Jollett clarified that the information publicized by Progress NC Action is “meant to inform voters of the power that the judiciary has in protecting free and fair elections.”

The results of the poll show that a majority of North Carolinians believe that gerrymandering is a problem. This comes at a time when political disagreements are commonplace. Williams who conducted the research explained that the study surveyed 662 voters and that it reflected the overall representation of North Carolina voter demographics. Williams noted how he was surprised to see how a majority of voters (72% of overall respondents) from all sides agree that gerrymandering is a problem. Moreover, 72% of respondents also believe that the state courts should be aggressive in limiting gerrymandering.

Generally speaking, the poll shows “North Carolinians are concerned with their voting and want valid maps,” according to Speas. In the past North Carolina’s elections have been held in maps that were overturned and declared invalid. Because of the state’s ugly history with partisan gerrymandering, voters of all sides are cognizant of this issue and want it removed from the current election system. 

In the past, the courts have helped to secure the rights of individual North Carolinians. Earlier this year, a panel of judges struck down a North Carolina law requiring voter ID. This move by the court was intended to protect against discrimination towards Black citizens. “Courts are more important than ever,” Kromm said. “They ensure a check on the other branches.” With the increasing partisanship amongst state legislatures, courts must maintain the integrity of the election system.

The panel discussion comes at a time when the state courts have already made important decisions regarding the 2022 midterm elections, suspending all candidate filing, and pushing back the primary elections just last week. Additionally, the courts are set to wade into another legal battle, deciding the legality of the new maps redrawn by the state legislature. This does not come without controversy, however, as Justice Phil Berger Jr. has yet to recuse himself from the case despite his father, Phil Berger Sr. having been named a defendant in the case. “North Carolinians are fed up with the politics surrounding elections,” Kromm said. “[They] also understand that family members shouldn’t decide elections.” 

Several takeaways can be taken from the results of the poll. It exhibits how as Ms. Kromm said, “citizens look to the courts to protect elections.” Despite the trust invested into the court system to protect election integrity, Kromm also noted that “all voters want politics out of our courts as well.” Speas seemed inclined to agree with Kromm and pointed out that “[gerrymandering] cases are tough on judges and the courts. The court battles put a partisan target on every judge in the state.” 

Overall, the poll and subsequent panel discussion by Progress NC Action are important in educating North Carolinians about the threats that partisan gerrymandering poses to free and fair elections. “It’s important that we recognize redistricting legislation is the most important legislation passed in each decade,” Speas said. “It’s also important that the courts deal with [partisan gerrymandering] completely and competently.” Ultimately through widespread education of the court’s influence on the election system, organizations like Progress NC Action are working to secure what Ms. Jollett called the “last line of defense for a constitutional election.”

For more information on elections in North Carolina, visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/