A Surprise Vote, Thrown Phone And Partisan 'Mistrust' Roil N.C. As Maps Are Redrawn
Lawmakers in the North Carolina legislature face a Wednesday deadline to submit new voting district lines to a state court. The previous lines were found to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered.
North Carolina state Sen. Rick Horner is pointing at a colorful computer screen.
A staffer points and clicks, points and clicks, slightly changing the dimensions of the red, yellow and cyan jigsaw puzzle at Horner's request.
It's a map of the voting districts of North Carolina. Horner, a Republican, is shaping democracy — and generally having a ball.
"It's like a video game!" the senator exclaims, as another chunk of voters moves into the swath that he represents, North Carolina's 11th Senate District. He's moving the voters in an effort to make the district as compact as possible.
"It is sort of like a video game," the staffer laughs as he moves the mouse,
