| 113th Year, 31st Issue | Thursday, March 14, 2002 | Sparta, North Carolina |
The North Carolina Supreme Court has unanimously ordered the state board of elections to put the state legislative primaries, scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, on hold. As a result, all of the primaries may be delayed.
The Supreme Court justices on Tuesday sided with a lower court ruling that the new district for State House and Senate districts split too many counties in the state. The new district lines, drawn by Democrats and approved by the Democratically-controlled legislature, were challenged in court by Republicans. Johnston County Superior Court Judge Knox V. Jenkins Jr. ruled in February that the legislative districts passed by the General Assembly were unconstitutional.
The decision may also force the state to delay the other primaries and elections scheduled for May 7. Setting a new date for all the races, once the lawsuit is settled, would save the state and counties from holding a costly second election.
The state elections board was slated to meet Tuesday in Raleigh to make a decision on the elections.
In a release from the North Carolina Republican Party, Chairman Bill Cobey said last week "once again the principles involved in our lawsuit are being vindicated.
|
Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News! Back |