On June 13, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a special election for this November to have voters consider three initiatives. One would create an independent panel of retired judges to draw state and congressional districts before the 2006 elections.

FairVote supports reforms that stop partisans from helping friends and hurting enemies in redistricting. But redrawing districts alone won't "bust up the boxes," as the governor seeks, because the real reason for lack of competitive choice in our legislative elections is winner-take-all elections. State-by-state reform of congressional redistricting also is more problematic than seeking national standards affecting all states simultaneously.

[See FairVote California’s plan to make our elections competitive]
[Read Steven Hill's take on redistricting published in Salon.com]
[Rep. Tanner's Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act]