RALEIGH, N.C. – A three-judge panel has ruled four State House districts in Wake County are unconstitutional, tossing out lines that were just redrawn last year by state lawmakers.

This decision will not impact the 2018 midterm election; the currently drawn lines will be used for that.

Lawmakers will need to fix the lines drawn for districts 36, 37, 40, and 41 by next year.

A Democratic challenger in one of those districts claims the maps were drawn to give Republicans an advantage.

“Representative Dollar was part of the decision making process to draw the lines in this district,” claims Julie Von Haefen, who is running against Dollar for NC District 36. “It's clear the lines were drawn in order to benefit him so that he is able to stay in power.”

Dollar responded to these allegations saying, "My opponent knows nothing of redistricting. The only reason we had a redistricting in 2017 is because of an order from the federal court, and we only redistricted those areas of the state and those county groupings.”

Republican lawmakers may appeal the decision.

 

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