Content Categorized with "Redistricting"
21 - 30 of 35 results
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No More Gerrymanders: Missouri
- Posted: December 19, 2011
- Categories: Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
Lawmakers in Missouri have recently passed a congressional redistricting plan that distorts the state’s political representation in favor of Republicans and institutionalizes a decade of uncompetitive, meaningless elections.
To address the structural impediments of winner-take-all, FairVote has created an alternative— what we call fair voting — for Missouri’s congressional elections. Every voter in a fair voting system would experience a meaningful election and the great majority of voters would help elect a representative.
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No More Gerrymanders: California's Commission Plan versus the Fair Voting Alternative
- Posted: November 4, 2011
- Author(s): Lindsey Needham, Fair Voting Plans, Sheahan Virgin
- Categories: Home, Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
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): Lindsey Needham, Katie P. Kelly, Fair Voting Plans, Sheahan Virgin
- Categories: Home, Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
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): Lindsey Needham, Fair Voting Plans, Sheahan Virgin
- Categories: Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Home, Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
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: Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Home, 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): Lindsey Needham, Fair Voting Plans, Sheahan Virgin
- Categories: Home, Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
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): Super Districts, Sheahan Virgin
- Categories: Home, Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
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): Super Districts, Sheahan Virgin
- Categories: Home, Redistricting, Monopoly Politics 2012 Map
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.
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Options for States Seeking Section 5 Preclearance
- Posted: August 3, 2011
- Author(s): Lesley O'Connor
- Categories: Home, Redistricting
Every ten years, after U.S. Census data is released, each state across the country must redraw electoral districts. One state with a history of controversial redistricting plans is Texas. This month, Gov. Rick Perry signed into law the state's new congressional redistricting maps.
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South Carolina: The Super District Alternative
- Posted: July 22, 2011
- Author(s): Super Districts, Jais Mehaji
- Categories: Fair Voting/Proportional Representation, Cumulative Voting, Redistricting
Redistricting ensures that political district lines reflect population changes in the U.S. Census every ten years so that each district has the same number of voters per seat in a district. South Carolina is in the midst of redistricting and, as with most states, it’s become complicated and increasingly controversial and partisan. As explained in our recent post on Michigan, FairVote proposes an alternative to the winner-take-all system that has plagued the redistricting process, and opened it up to gerrymandering, partisan bickering, and opportunism.