Comments on: Time for Non-Partisan Redistricting http://baconsrebellion.com/2009/02/03/time-for-non-partisan-redistricting/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:36:06 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Fred Costello http://baconsrebellion.com/2009/02/03/time-for-non-partisan-redistricting/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Fred Costello Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:27:14 +0000 http://baconsrebellion.com/?p=261#comment-196 One method of making the redistricting non-partisan would be to limit the ratio of the miles south-to-north to the miles east-to-west. Exceptions may be required near the corners of the State. The ratio would be on the order of 0.36, so limit it to 0.3 to 0.4. One method of making the redistricting non-partisan would be to limit the ratio of the miles south-to-north to the miles east-to-west. Exceptions may be required near the corners of the State. The ratio would be on the order of 0.36, so limit it to 0.3 to 0.4.

]]> By: John Huennekens http://baconsrebellion.com/2009/02/03/time-for-non-partisan-redistricting/comment-page-1/#comment-175 John Huennekens Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:03:59 +0000 http://baconsrebellion.com/?p=261#comment-175 The aspect of re-districting that always bothered me was the burden it imposed on local communities to keep track of boundaries that divide precincts. So I'm more concerned about simplified re-districting that non-partisan. Non-partisan is a pretty altruistic goal in my mind. But simplifying the process to save taxpayer money - how can you be against that? Just a simple criteria that legislative district boundaries shall conform to the boundaries of existing voting precincts would ease the burden on local registrars. Currently, the politicians have found irresistable, their ability to draw maps down to the detail of the city block in their craving to encircle as many friendly voters (or entrap as many unfriendly voters) as possible. But the maps are wrong on the day they are drawn, since they rely on old data of where voters live and how they voted. They can't reflect the constant change as houses are built and people move. Therefore, even though the redistrictors go to extreme lengths to create safe districts, as time goes on, the voting population changes and 'safe' seats change parties anyway. The aspect of re-districting that always bothered me was the burden it imposed on local communities to keep track of boundaries that divide precincts. So I’m more concerned about simplified re-districting that non-partisan. Non-partisan is a pretty altruistic goal in my mind. But simplifying the process to save taxpayer money – how can you be against that?

Just a simple criteria that legislative district boundaries shall conform to the boundaries of existing voting precincts would ease the burden on local registrars.

Currently, the politicians have found irresistable, their ability to draw maps down to the detail of the city block in their craving to encircle as many friendly voters (or entrap as many unfriendly voters) as possible. But the maps are wrong on the day they are drawn, since they rely on old data of where voters live and how they voted. They can’t reflect the constant change as houses are built and people move. Therefore, even though the redistrictors go to extreme lengths to create safe districts, as time goes on, the voting population changes and ’safe’ seats change parties anyway.

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