HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge is considering a challenge to a newly redrawn state Senate district in eastern Arkansas.
The lawsuit was filed by Sen. Jack Crumbly, who's running for re-election for Senate District 24. Crumbly claims that the state's Board of Apportionment intentionally diluted the black vote when it redrew boundaries for the state's legislative districts using the latest Census data.
The board's three members — Gov. Mike Beebe, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and Secretary of State Mark Martin — are expected to testify during the weeklong trial that begins Monday in Helena-West Helena.
Martin has argued it's too late to change the boundaries, but says he's still opposed to the map that the board approved on a 2-1 vote last year.
Early voting begins Monday for the May 22 primary.
©2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
