RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Lawmakers responsible for drawing election district lines have filed an emergency request for a stay of a federal court order that says two of the state's congressional districts must be redrawn.

A three-judge panel said congressional districts 1 and 12 were drawn with race as the key factor.

The Charlotte Observer reports that after the appeal, the court gave the people how filed the original lawsuit until Tuesday midday to respond.

Which way the appeal goes will determine if North Carolina's March 15 primary election will continue as scheduled.

Absentee ballots have already been cast and many others requested, according to the state Board of Elections.