Fact check: Did NY redistrict or jerrymander in 2015

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, New York did not redistrict or gerrymander in 2015. The sources consistently fail to provide evidence of any redistricting activity in New York during that specific year ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}.

However, the analyses reveal that New York did engage in significant redistricting reform activities around this timeframe. A 2014 constitutional amendment aimed to reform the redistricting process ^[6], and there was a redistricting process in 2014 that led to the creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) that was "seemingly designed to fail" ^[7].

The most significant redistricting controversy in New York occurred much later, in 2022, when the New York State Court of Appeals upheld an opinion that tossed out congressional district maps approved by the State Legislature and governor, suggesting gerrymandering had occurred ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial temporal context about New York's redistricting timeline. New York's redistricting follows a decennial schedule tied to the U.S. Census, with the next scheduled redraw set for 2030 ^[7]. This means 2015 would have been an unusual year for major redistricting activity.

The analyses reveal that New York's redistricting process has been a contentious partisan battleground ^[7], but the major controversies occurred in different years:

• 2014: Constitutional amendment and IRC creation
• 2022: Major gerrymandering controversy with court intervention
• 2024: Democratic majority introduced new congressional maps ^[8]

Political actors who benefit from confusion about redistricting timelines include both major parties, as redistricting disputes can be used to mobilize voter bases and justify electoral outcomes. The Democratic majority in New York's state Legislature particularly benefited from the 2022 redistricting efforts before court intervention ^{[4] [8]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains a factual inaccuracy regarding the timeline of New York's redistricting activities. By asking specifically about 2015, it may inadvertently spread misinformation about when New York's redistricting controversies actually occurred.

The question also conflates "redistricting" with "gerrymandering" - while redistricting is a neutral, constitutionally required process that occurs every decade, gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of district boundaries for partisan advantage. This conflation could bias understanding of the redistricting process itself.

The timing of the question ^[9] falls between major redistricting cycles and significant reform efforts, suggesting either confusion about New York's actual redistricting timeline or potentially politically motivated timing to create controversy where none existed during that specific year.