A New York appellate court judge allowed Suffolk County Democrats in the legislature to redraw decennial redistricting maps instead of a bipartisan redistricting commission. The decision will likely be challenged in the New Year when Republicans hold the legislative majority.
Democrats want to redraw county legislative districts on Friday, the last night the party has control of the Suffolk County Legislature. Earlier this week, a county judge halted the process after Republicans sued.
On appeal, Democrats were allowed to vote on the new maps. However, a final decision on the matter will be argued in court next year.
According to the county charter, a bipartisan redistricting commission is supposed to redraw the maps. That commission was never fully seated. Democrats say that’s why they pushed redrawing the maps on their own.
Their maps would consolidate four largely Republican districts and increase the number of districts where Black and Latino residents are the majority.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone has not yet said if he will sign-off on the new districts.
