Interesting Article on Redistricting (Iowa Model for Redistricting)

[rpannier]

I found it compelling and (at least on first read) and an idea that other states should follow.

WHY REPUBLICANS SHOULD GET ON THE REDISTRICTING REFORM BANDWAGON

Once every decade--in years that end in zero--true political junkies get to spend an entire year basking in the glow of the national campaign over redistricting. For them, it's like the Super Bowl, March Madness, the World Series, and the Daytona 500 all wrapped up in one, but spread out over dozens of key states. In anticipation of the constitutionally-mandated redistricting that takes place the following year, Republicans and Democrats go to war over key governors' mansions and targeted state legislative seats, working both offense and defense to shut out their opponents where possible, and grab a seat at the table where necessary. From command bunkers in Washington, DC and in the state capitals, campaign resources (money, manpower, and media) are directed in highly targeted fashion, all with a view to gaining an edge here or a foothold there.

snip

Under an Iowa law that's been in effect for decades, a group of legislative staffers from the state's Legislative Service Bureau is sent off to a corner and given only minimal information from the Census. They are specifically NOT given the home addresses of legislators (so they can't and won't draw district lines that include or exclude specific legislators); neither are they given voting histories of individual voters, nor the voting tendencies of individual precincts.

They are under specific legal mandate to draw districts that are equal in population, contiguous, and compact, and that share, to the greatest extent possible, community. Additionally, the Iowa Constitution requires that they may not draw district lines that split counties into different congressional districts.

When they are finished with their drafting, their proposed map is put to a vote of each house of the legislature. Like the recommendations of the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the maps are put to a vote on a straight up-or-down basis, with no amendments allowed.

link:
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/article.php?id=WWP2010011401

[Alexander]

1. I read an article in support of the Iowa model about 6 years ago.

It made just as much sense then as it does now.

Of course, that's why it will never happen.

The article from 6 years ago also pointed out how both parties have gerrymandered themselves into mostly safe seats in California, much like gangs dividing up turf.

[rpannier]

2. Maybe this would force the idiots in Washington to do a better job

And it might encourage more people to challenge them

[Alexander]

3. Oh, definitely it would. So would public financing of campaigns.

Which is why these things won't happen any time soon.

Why would politicians want to answer to the people and actually have to do something when they can just listen to people who write the big checks, and do nothing?

Human nature is pretty simple. Would you rather earn 6 figures doing nothing, or 6 figures working your ass off every day? Most people would opt to collect a paycheck and do nothing if they could.

[murielm99]

4. The Iowa plan does not work everywhere.

Minority districts have to be redrawn first to prevent minority votes from being diluted out of existence. The 1965 Federal Voting Rights Act, Section 2, has to be considered when redrawing districts. Iowa has a smaller minority population and relatively few minority districts to be considered.

[FBaggins]

5. Danger Will Robinson! Danger!

So called "impartial" redistricting would net Republicans dozens of seats (and likely some state legislatures).

It's a simple matter of demographic distribution. We would end up with loads of UBER-safe seats, diluting our voting power in the rest of the districts.

[rpannier]

6. As the article points out

Moreover, the result of the Iowa model is that the districts are competitive--in the 2002 elections (the first elections under the new map), only one of the five contests was a blowout, while the rest were relatively close--one was decided by six points, one by eight, one by 12, and one by 14 points.