Judge sets May 3 deadline for Alaska redistricting claims

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A state court judge has set a May 3 deadline for challenges to a revised redistricting plan for Alaska.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews, in an order dated Wednesday, said the accelerated timeline takes into account a June 1 candidate filing deadline for the August primary. He said given the approaching filing deadline, it would be “impossible” for the courts to hear and decide challenges to the plan if they were filed as late as 30 days after the revised plan was issued.

The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted a revised plan on April 13. The board went back to work after the state Supreme Court ruled that a Senate district pairing part of east Anchorage and the Eagle River area constituted an “unconstitutional political gerrymander.”

Plaintiffs from east Anchorage who challenged the initial plan also asked the court to reject the amended plan. They have raised concerns with the plan splitting the Eagle River area into two Senate districts.

Matthews held a hearing on the claim earlier this week.