Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Moore v. Harper, a redistricting case out of North Carolina that could have severe implications for how our voting maps are drawn, voting rights, and the future of our democracy itself. If the Court accepts the radical and fringe Independent State Legislature Theory at the center of the case, it will effectively strip state courts and governors of the authority they have traditionally been afforded under state constitutions to strike down anti-democratic and unconstitutional legislative maps, and could even allow partisan state legislatures to set their own rules for presidential and congressional elections, absent any state checks or balances.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision in Moore v. Harper by the end of the current term, June 2023.
In response, Leslie Fields, Sierra Club’s National Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Legal, released the following statement:
“The bedrock of our democracy is the ability of every American -- regardless of race, income, or zip code -- to fairly and equitably cast their vote in our elections and have each vote count. At its worst, Moore v. Harper threatens to irreparably shatter that bedrock and move us one step closer to ending our centuries-long experiment with a democratic government. This must not happen.
“The Independent State Legislature Theory is an unproven, radical idea that has no legal or historical basis. Our ability to protect our communities from climate catastrophe and reverse decades of environmental injustice hinges on every person’s ability to vote for the leaders who best represent them. If the Supreme Court adopts this theory, partisan state legislators would have free rein to ensure their own perpetual power by manipulating legislative maps and voting rules, permanently drowning out the voices of frontline communities and the most vulnerable.
“The eyes of the nation rest upon the Supreme Court and the stakes could not be higher.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.