NC trial looking at role of race in redistricting

GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Current and former Democratic state legislators are testifying at a trial where judges are weighing arguments whether the redistricting maps drawn by North Carolina Republicans in 2011 are legal or should be thrown out.

State Sen. Dan Blue of Raleigh and former Sen. Eric Mansfield of Fayetteville told a three-judge panel Tuesday there was no need for Republicans to increase the black voting age population in their districts to make them majority-black to ensure black voters can elect their favored candidates.

Mansfield and Blue testified white voters are willing to elect black candidates due to changing voting patterns and views on race.

Republican legislative leaders and the state argue racially polarized voting still exists in North Carolina and majority-black districts can be drawn to avoid federal voting rights challenges.

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