JUNEAU -- A consultant to the Alaska Redistricting Board says a plan drawn strictly with constitutional requirements in mind likely would not meet federal voting rights standards.
Lisa Handley told the board, in a written report, that a plan it is working from likely wouldn't get preclearance from the U.S. Justice Department.
The Alaska Supreme Court ordered the board to follow the process laid out in an earlier case. That means the board is to design a plan focusing on state constitutional requirements.
The board adopted such a plan Tuesday as a starting point. It was then to determine whether that plan complies with federal law.
If it doesn't, the board is to make revisions deviating from the constitution when deviation is the only means available to meet federal voting act requirements.
