The Supreme Court has long suggested there is a limit for what is acceptable partisan gerrymandering, but like obscenity, so far the line is undefined and left to courts to know it when they see it. The Court has said that it is willing to hear constitutional challenges to partisan gerrymandering, but existing legal theories have been insufficient to empower citizens with the tools they need to overturn partisan gerrymanders in court. This is your chance to change that.
We are inviting legal and social science practitioners, scholars, and students to submit papers proposing a new definition of partisan gerrymandering or further developing an existing standard. Winning papers will be selected by a distinguished panel of former State Supreme Court Justices, litigators, and election scholars.
Prizes will be as follows:
1st place – $5,000
2nd place - $3,000
3rd place - $2,000
The top entries will also be published in Election Law Journal, the leading academic publication in the elections field. Common Cause will cover expenses for winners to travel to Washington, DC in the fall of 2015 to present their papers.
For general information, please check out: http://www.commoncause.org/GerrymanderStandard. Please review the 2015 “Gerrymander Standard” Writing Competition Submission Requirements before submitting your entry. Submissions must be sent to contest@commoncause.org by Friday, February 27. Do not include any information identifying yourself in the paper. Include your name, phone number, and address only in the body of the cover email. Feel free to email us at contest@commoncause.org with any questions.