Organizers to withdraw independent redistricting proposal after court challenge

A proposed ballot measure to allow voters to decide whether Nevada should have an independent redistricting commission will be withdrawn, say organizers, following a court challenge by lawyers aligned with the Democratic Party.

Marc Elias, the nation’s most prominent Democratic election lawyer, on Monday announced his firm, Elias Law Group, along with Bravo Schrager, a Nevada firm also aligned with Democrats, are representing a Nevada voter named Juan Medina and challenging an independent redistricting commission ballot question proposed by Vote Nevada PAC.

In response, the political action committee plans to withdraw its proposal, citing an inability to fund a legal defense.

Independent redistricting commission, nonpartisan voting ballot measures proposed in Nevada

“The sponsors of the independent redistricting commission ballot question are disappointed that Nevada’s Democratic Party has once again silenced Nevadans by blocking our right to discuss redistricting reform as a community,” said Vote Nevada PAC Executive Director Sondra Cosgrove in a statement to the Nevada Current. “Feeling entitled to draw our district maps does not give the Democratic Party the right to gerrymander our voices into silence.”

In 2024, a similar ballot measure to form an independent redistricting commission was deemed “legally deficient” by the Nevada Supreme Court because it did not establish a revenue source to pay for the new public body. Cosgrove was a part of that effort, which was filed by Fair Maps Nevada PAC. The legal challenge against Fair Maps was also filed by Elias Law Group and Bravo Schrager.

The complaint filed against this year’s proposal argues that the “operative text” of the ballot measure is identical to the one two years ago, and therefore still violates the state constitution’s prohibition on unfunded mandates. Attorneys also argue that, because the organizers of the new measure were involved in the nearly identical measure that was thrown out, they cannot resubmit the measure under a new PAC.

Bravo Schrager declined to comment Tuesday. Elias Law Group did not respond to a request for comment.

Cosgrove has previously said she disagrees with the Nevada Supreme Court ruling regarding the unfunded mandate, saying it is applied selectively.

In her statement Tuesday, she said the Vote Nevada organizers plan to submit a new petition “that directly addresses this misinterpretation of our Constitution.”

Vote Nevada last month filed a second proposed ballot measure to amend the state’s Voter Bill of Rights to include a provision that could force the two major political parties to open their primaries. That proposal was not challenged in court, and the PAC plans to move forward with it, according to Cosgrove.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Sondra Cosgrove’s name.