washington u.s. supreme court monday fault north carolina racially ting vote right case uphold low court rule republican lawmakers map state legislative district way dilute clout black voters justices also throw another rule panel three federal judge order special elections november fill state legislature seat issue dispute high court record dissent send case back low court reconsider whether special elections necessary supreme court january put matter special elections hold decide whether hear state appeal rule justices uphold august 2016 rule three-judge panel district racial gerrymander boundaries draw diminish vote power minorities violate u.s. constitution guarantee equal protection law low court find republican-led state legislature cram black voters limit number district order lessen statewide electoral power issue nine state senate district 19 state house district carve plan adopt legislature 2011. supreme court deal north carolina vote right case three time past three weeks may 22 rule north carolina republicans unlawfully take race consideration draw two majority-black u.s. house representatives district concentrate black voters improper bid diminish statewide influence may 15 justices rebuff republican bid revive strict north carolina voter-identification law low court find deliberately discriminate black voters monday justices opinion record dissent throw decision require special elections say low court give cursory analysis whether elections proper remedy racial gerrymander order last november add say obvious considerations include severity nature particular constitutional violation extent likely disruption ordinary process governance early elections impose need act proper judicial restraint intrude state sovereignty pack minorities limit number legislative district would reduce influence elect large number lawmakers increase sway white voters whether election november 2018 early redrawing district good democracy level play field free fair elections north carolina governor roy cooper democrat say statement people able choose representatives competitive district instead representatives able choose people lopsided partisan district cooper add republican lawmakers praise high court action throw order require special elections encourage supreme court unanimously reject low court politically motivate attempt force special legislative election 2017 efforts suspend provision north carolina constitution ignore voters constitutional right elect representatives two-year term effectively nullify vote 2016 state senator ralph hise representative david lewis say statement democrats accuse republicans take variety step state level disenfranchise black minority voters tend back democratic candidates republicans defend action say mean prevent voter fraud u.s. top court fault north carolina vote right