Today the State of North Carolina filed an emergency petition to stay Friday’s last-minute decision on redistricting with the same three judge panel in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Below is a statement from Sen. Bob Rucho (R-Mecklenburg) and Rep. David Lewis (R-Harnett), Chairmen of the Senate and House Redistricting Committees:

“We trust the federal trial court was not aware an election was already underway and surely did not intend to throw our state into chaos by nullifying ballots that have already been sent out and votes that have already been cast. We hope the court will realize the serious and far-reaching ramifications of its unprecedented, eleventh-hour action and immediately issue a stay.”