We are still waiting to hear from a federal judge in Albany when the primaries for congressional and state legislative races will take place this year. Legislators and elections officials are ready for a ruling because it could impact the timetable for the complicated process of redistricting. Capital Tonight's Nick Reisman has more on how the courts are impacting this year's election cycle.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

NEW YORK STATE -- As the lawmaker-driven redistricting process comes under fire here in New York, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed the power of state lawmakers in Texas to draw their own lines, tossing out boundaries created by a lower court.

Assemblyman Jack McEneny is the Democratic co-chairman of the commission leading the redistricting effort.

McEneny said, “I think what we can understand from that ruling is that there should be greater respect given to the function of the Legislature and the governor signed approach.”

Redistricting is a politically charged process that good government groups say is designed to keep incumbents in power. Meanwhile, hotly anticipated maps for state lines are expected as early as Monday. The big question is where the proposed 63rd Senate seat will appear.

“It will be in the State of New York. It wil be not on the island, but you know, you have to be able to anticipate something next week,” said Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

A new Senate seat will likely go in a Republican heavy area as the GOP protects its thin majority in the chamber. But advocacy group Common Cause says it ought to go in New York City in order to maintain a population balance.

The group said, “It would perpetuate an objectionable practice of diluting NYC voting power and under-populating upstate districts to politically advantage Senate Republicans.”

It's still unclear when the state's primary will be held, which is normally held in September. A federal judge is expected to rule any day now in order to force compliance with a federal law. Republicans say an August date fits with New York's political calendar.

“Can you imagine the chaos that's going to exist in the last five weeks of session if you have primaries going on in New York City? Shelly won't be able to get a quorum. And the practical part of petitioning signing. How do you get petitions signed in North County, in Watertown, with that weather? Very difficult,” Skelos said.

Democrats and some elections officials say June is preferable considering most people are on vacation in August and schools are closed.