Federal Court Says It Will Act Quickly On NC Redistricting

A federal court in the middle of the state's battle over political maps says it will act promptly to decide when they need to be redrawn. The decision could determine if voters will head back to the polls before 2018.

The U.S. District Court in Greensboro struck down 28 state legislative districts last summer. The court has now issued a written notice saying it will act quickly not just on when the maps will be redrawn, but also on whether a special election with new districts is necessary.

The move comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling last week affirming that decision to toss the 2011 boundaries after finding them racially gerrymandered. But they didn't tell the lower court what to do about a new election.

The district court invited attorneys for the state, the legislature and the State Board of Elections to provide input as expeditiously as possible.

The Supreme Court has not yet officially returned the case to the lower court, and that alone could take a few weeks.