The State Board of Elections committee and NC lawmakers submitted emergency requests to delay in redrawing congressional districts, after two were deemed unconstitutional by favoring white voters. NC Supreme Court judges said that congressional district maps had to be redrawn by lawmakers by Feb. 19 and declared that no U.S. House elections could be held until the maps were approved and put in place. Lawmakers and election officials say that the order will jeopardize the March 15 primary since more than 8,600 absentee ballots have already been sent out. The State Board of Elections has already filled out and sent back 430 of them. However, the North Carolina Supreme Court has approved the redrawing of congressional and legislative maps twice before, even against groups that complained black voters were intentionally packed into select districts. 

SOURCE: WRAL