SC House passes redistricting map in midnight vote; lawsuit filed

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The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a congressional redistricting plan in a vote that occurred after midnight on May 20, sending the proposed map to the Senate as a legal challenge emerged over how the chamber conducted its debate, according to reporting by WISTV, WRDW and the Post and Courier.

The House vote came after more than 20 hours of debate spread over three days of a special session called by Gov. Henry McMaster, WISTV reported. Republican lawmakers moved May 18 to limit amendments after more than 600 had been filed and only nine had been addressed, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats who said the move stifled debate on a consequential issue. The proposed map would redraw the state’s congressional districts to Republican advantage, targeting the 6th Congressional District held by Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, the state’s only Democratic congressional seat.

The most significant legal development came on May 19, when the South Carolina chapters of the League of Women Voters and the ACLU filed suit in Richland County court, accusing House leadership of violating the state’s open meetings law after calling a surprise hearing to change House rules, the Post and Courier reported. House Speaker Murrell Smith has said the House is exempt from the law, citing legislative privilege. An emergency hearing on the lawsuit was scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 20 in Richland County court.

The Senate’s first redistricting committee hearing was also scheduled for May 20, WISTV reported. Lawmakers face a self-imposed deadline of May 26, when early voting begins for the June 9 primaries.