A federal judge has ordered Charles Mix County in South Dakota to submit a new redistricting plan because the county's current system violates the voting rights of Native Americans.

The county is home to the Yankton Sioux Tribe. But no Native American has even been elected to the county commission, according to a lawsuit filed by members of the tribe.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol agreed that the county's system violates Native voting rights. She said the districts keep Native Americans a minority, preventing them from electing a candidate of their choice.

Piersol ordered the county to come up with a new map by November 14 or she will draw one on her own.

Get the Story:
Voting rights violated in South Dakota (Indian Country Today 10/31)

Related Stories:
South Dakota cleared for appeal on voting rights (10/07)
South Dakota appeals Native voting rights case (08/09)
NCAI joins push to reauthorize Voting Rights Act (8/2)
Court bars state in Native voting rights case (07/15)
Editorial: Redraw districts for Native voting rights (07/15)
Editorial: Stop stalling on Native voting rights (7/14)
Lawmakers set for appeal of voting rights case (7/12)
Lawmakers weigh appeal of voting rights case (7/11)
South Dakota Supreme Court to hear voting rights case (03/16)
Indian voters oppose bill aimed at settling lawsuit (03/01)
Suit challenges South Dakota county's voting districts (01/28)
South Dakota court takes voting rights question (01/24)
Editorial: Stop delaying Native voting rights case (12/16)
South Dakota Indians seek action on voting rights (12/13)
South Dakota seeks delay in Native voting case (11/02)
Editorial: Don't appeal Indian voting rights case (09/28)
Judge: South Dakota violated Indian voting rights (09/16)
Federal judge to issue voting rights ruling this summer (05/04)
ACLU rests case in Indian voting rights trial (04/23)
S.D. Indians testify of racism in voting rights trial (04/15)
Trial into Indian voting rights in South Dakota continues (4/14)
Trial examines Indian voting rights in South Dakota (4/13)