Save American Democracy Act – H.R. 5879 – Would Prohibit Most Mid-Decade Redistricting

Save American Democracy Act – H.R. 5879 – Would Prohibit Most Mid-Decade Redistricting

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34) introduced the Save American Democracy Act (SAD Act) (H.R. 5879), legislation that would prohibit mid-decade Congressional redistricting absent a court order on Constitutional or Voting Rights Act grounds, or a state approving legislation to require a mid-decade redistricting.

“A State which has redistricted in the manner provided by law after an apportionment” following a decennial census would be prohibited from redistricting “again until after the next apportionment… unless”:

• “a court requires the State to conduct such subsequent redistricting” for Constitutional or Voting Rights Act compliance; or
• “legislation enacted by the State to implement such redistricting expressly requires such subsequent redistricting.”

Nothing in H.R. 5879 would “be construed to affect the manner in which a State carries out elections for State or local office.”

The bill would “apply with respect to any Congressional redistricting which occurs after the regular decennial census conducted during 2020.”

The Save American Democracy Act has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It has 5 cosponsors.