Justices weigh meaning of 'one person, one vote'



WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is treading gingerly on a question of immense importance to the nation's growing Latino population: whether states must count all residents, or only eligible voters, in drawing electoral districts.

The justices on Tuesday displayed little of the aggressiveness that often marks Supreme Court arguments as they heard a case about the meaning of the principle of "one person, one vote."

Two Texas voters are asking the court to prohibit states from basing electoral maps on total population because it inflates the voting power of urban residents and dilutes the votes of rural residents. They suggest that states should base their districts on the number of eligible voters, excluding children and people who are not citizens.

Civil rights groups say such a change would damage Latino political influence.


 

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.