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While obviously the big winner last night was House Republicans, another big winner was supporters of redistricting reform. In California and Florida, anti-gerrymandering ballot measures won by large margins.
In Florida, Amendments 5 and 6, which mandate perimeters intended to prevent gerrymandering in the state legislature and congressional redistricting, both secured over 62 percent of the vote. This is over the 60-percent threshold required for a state constitutional amendment to go into effect.
In California, Proposition 20 passed by an equally large margin, also winning around 62 percent of the vote. Prop 20 will expand the power of the newly created California Citizens Redistricting Commission by having it also draw the new congressional districts in addition to state legislative districts. Similarly, Proposition 27 in California, which would have abolished the redistricting commission, lost 40.6 – 59.4.
In these two big states, overwhelming majorities sent a clear message against the extreme gerrymandering that has dominated the two states for years.
Collectively, California and Florida contain 78 congressional districts, roughly 18 percent of all congressional districts. Reducing gerrymandering in these two large states could potentially have national implications.
4 Comments
Some things make us have faith in the people. Probably because many of us enjoyed university education back when it worked.
As well it should. Redistricting would be best if turned over to a computer with a few simple parameters.
Much as I love anti-gerrymandering reform, I’d've preferred measures with the triggers like the various state legislatures’ electoral college reform measures — delaying their application until some larger percentage of the national population is covered by the same laws.
With California’s change, at least, the net effect will likely be to reduce number of safe D seats relative to R seats nationwide. Or as President Clinton said with respect to voluntarily playing nice with campaign funding, it’s unilateral disarmament (though only partial).
WHILE everyone’s interpreting what happened last nite, I’ve made the most productive gesture I can think of to prepare for the 2012 elections. I just donated to FDL! There’s a lot to be done & I trust Jane & team to continue to fight the fight.