Content Categorized with "Redistricting"
11 - 20 of 28 results
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Happy 200th Birthday to the “Gerry-mander”
- Posted: February 17, 2012
- Author(s): Tyler Sadonis
- Categories: Home, Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Redistricting, FairVote
Saturday February 11, 2012 marked the 200th birthday of the "Gerry-mander." With 2012 redistricting plans taking shape, gerrymandering continues to be prevalent. FairVote advocates for an alternative reform to fundamentally change the way we draw district boundaries.
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Texas Redistricting in the Hands of the Supreme Court Yet Again
- Posted: January 9, 2012
- Author(s): Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Redistricting
Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for three cases pertaining to Texas redistricting. In recent decades, Texas has been unable to pass a congressional redistricting plan with paying a visit to the high court. With a redistricting process that forces partisan interests to battle racial minority communities for power over a district's single seat, there is little surprise regarding these recurring controversies.
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No More Gerrymanders: Congressional Representation in the Seven At-Large States
- Posted: January 3, 2012
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Redistricting, All Reports
Though spared the controversies of congressional redistricting, winner-take-all rules still plague the seven at-large states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming). Nowhere are the shortcomings of our voting system more acute than in at-large winner-take-all races, where one individual is - rather astonishingly - responsible for representing the political and demographic diversity of an entire state. Read our latest critique of winner-take-all elections and our analysis of congressional elections in these at-large states.
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No More Gerrymanders: California's Commission Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
- Posted: November 4, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Redistricting
For the first time in California's history, a Citizens Redistricting Commission has drawn the lines for congressional districts. Despite having taken control away from partisan state legislators, the commission's map has been controversial, both among racial minority groups and Republicans who are concerned about fair repesentation. Most disticts also will not be competitive.
The root of the worst problems associated with redistricting lies with winner-take-all elections, in which 50% + 1 of the vote can elect 100% of the representation. Fair voting systems, relying on a form of proportional representation, are a far better way to achieve public interest objectives and allow all voters to participate in meaningful elections. As part of an ongoing series, FairVote has produced a "super-district" plan designed for elections with a fair voting system. Our California plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while providing fair representation and voter choice for California voters. -
No More Gerrymanders: Georgia's Partisan Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
- Posted: October 31, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans, Katie P. Kelly, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Redistricting
Lawmakers in Georgia have recently passed a congressional redistricting plan that gives Republican candidates a strong advantage in 10 of 14 seats and protects nearly all incumbents. There's a better way -- proportional voting systems in multi-seat "super districts." Read the latest in our fair voting plan series.
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No More Gerrymanders: Illinois' Partisan Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
- Posted: October 19, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Redistricting
Check out our latest findings in the fair voting plan series. Illinois goes from 14 gerrymandered congressional districts to 4 super-districts.
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Maryland Gerrymander Triggers Support for Fair Voting
- Posted: October 18, 2011
- Categories: Home, Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Redistricting
The Maryland state senate today passed a proposed map for congressional redistricting that has been highly controversial for its gerrymandered district lines and disputes involving partisanship and race. State Senator Jamie Raskin, a constitutional law professor and former FairVote board member, made a well-received floor speech arguing that the best way to address the problem in the future was to put voters in charge over their representation. Raskin shared FairVote's plan for fair voting in super-districts with three and five members that would lead to nearly every voter being able to elect a favorite candidate.
FairVote is drawing such plans for all states in the nation. They could be established for congressional elections by repealing a 1967 law requiring winner-take-all districts.* Baltimore Sun on Sen. Raskin's speech* The congressional map as passed state senate* Example of Fair Voting plans for Ohio and North Carolina* Commentary from FairVote's Rob Richie and Krist Novoselic -
No More Gerrymanders: Ohio's GOP-centric Plan versus the FairVote Super District Alternative
- Posted: October 13, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Fair Voting Plans, Lindsey Needham
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Redistricting
Controversies over redistricting in Ohio provide the latest evidence of the failure of winner-take-all, single member district rules. Read our latest addition in the fair voting blog series.
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No More Gerrymanders: Transforming Maine into One At-Large Super District
- Posted: August 23, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Super Districts
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Redistricting
Lawmakers in Maine are fiercely debating how to redraw the boundaries of the state's two U.S. congressional districts in the wake of the 2010 Census. Both political parties seek new maps favorable to their candidates, a process that could affect not only the current 2-0 Democratic U.S. House majority, but possibly also an Electoral College vote at the presidential level. FairVote has produced an alternative "super district" map designed for election with a proportional voting system. Our plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while guaranteeing competitive voter choice and fairer representation.
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No More Gerrymanders: Transforming Connecticut into One At-Large Super District
- Posted: August 23, 2011
- Author(s): Sheahan Virgin, Super Districts
- Categories: Home, The Fair Voting Solution for U.S. House Elections, Redistricting
Lawmakers in Connecticut are debating how to redraw the boundaries of the state's five U.S. congressional districts in the wake of the 2010 Census. Fully in control of the state legislature, the Democratic Party is expected to push through a new map that protects its incumbents. Such controversies are products of our winner-take-all elections, in which 50.01% of voters can elect 100% of representation. Winner-take-all rules marginalize like-minded voters of a political minority no matter their relative numerical strength, thereby depressing turnout and providing inadequate representation. As part of an ongoing project, FairVote has produced a "super district" map designed for Connecticut elections with a proportional voting system. Our proportional plan upholds U.S. Supreme Court rulings on apportionment while guaranteeing fairer representation.