News reports, community group press releases

Miami Settles Racial Gerrymandering Lawsuit After Judge’s Finding, New Fair Maps to Be Drawn

May 23, 2024, 10:52 PM

The City of Miami has settled a contentious racial gerrymandering lawsuit brought by voting rights groups, including Engage Miami and the ACLU of Florida, following a judge’s finding. The settlement will result in a new voting map drawn by these groups and the potential establishment of a citizens redistricting committee. The lawsuit, which challenged the city's previous districting practices, argued that black voters were unfairly split across multiple districts to diminish their electoral influence. The settlement is seen as a victory for fair representation and fair maps in Miami. Additionally, a new lawsuit has been filed in federal court challenging the racial gerrymandering of four congressional districts and seven state house districts in South and Southwest Florida, alleging violations of the U.S. Constitution. The new lawsuit also claims that South Florida Hispanic voters were treated as a monolith.