petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to grant ... - Election Law Blog
petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to grant ... - Election Law Blog
petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to grant ... - Election Law Blog
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50aAppendix DD. Totality of <strong>the</strong> Circumstances-Senate Report Fac<strong>to</strong>rsThe Senate Report’s “list of typical fac<strong>to</strong>rs is nei<strong>the</strong>rcomprehensive nor exclusive” and “<strong>the</strong>re is no requirementthat a particular number of fac<strong>to</strong>rs be proved, or that amajority of <strong>the</strong>m point one way or <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.” Gingles, 478U.S. at 45, 106 S.Ct. 2752. Ra<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> ultimate “questionwhe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> political processes are equally open dependsupon a searching practical evaluation of <strong>the</strong> past andpresent reality, and on a functional view of <strong>the</strong> politicalprocess.” Id. (internal citations omitted).1. Senate Fac<strong>to</strong>r 2: Racial PolarizationThe second Senate fac<strong>to</strong>r evaluates <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>to</strong> whichvoting in <strong>the</strong> elections of <strong>the</strong> state or political subdivisionis racially polarized. Gingles, 478 U.S. at 37, 106 S.Ct.2752. In <strong>the</strong> three elections evaluated in which a Hispaniccandidate was on <strong>the</strong> ballot, <strong>the</strong> Hispanic candidate alwaysreceived more than 63% of <strong>the</strong> Hispanic vote and lessthan 31% of <strong>the</strong> non-Hispanic vote. (PL’s Tr. Ex. 26, atTable 1.) In <strong>the</strong> most extreme of <strong>the</strong> three elections, CityCouncil candidate Reza received 100% of <strong>the</strong> Hispanic voteand only 10% of <strong>the</strong> non-Hispanic vote, according <strong>to</strong> Dr.Engstrom’s ER estimates. (Id.) The <strong>Court</strong> finds that <strong>the</strong>statistical evidence shows that racially polarized votingoccurred and <strong>the</strong> degree of polarization was significantin <strong>the</strong> last three elections involving Hispanic candidates.