How Redistricting Can Block the Democratic Process

Every 10 years, following the U.S. Census, congressional and state legislative districts are redrawn in every state.

What’s happening today? In some states, legislatures are deliberately splitting communities with common interests to dilute their impact on elections. That limits democracy.

Voters in some states have established independent redistricting commissions that look to draw fair boundaries that don’t favor either political party.

In California, new district maps drawn by the Independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission overcame two court challenges and will take effect June 2012.

In Arizona, Governor Jan Brewer continues to fight the Independent Redistricting Commission established by voters. Brewer tried to fire the commission chair because she didn’t like the committee’s results, but the state Supreme Court blocked that action.

In Texas, legislators tried to intentionally divide the growing Latino population by splitting that community in the Dallas-Fort Worth region seven ways. A federal court overruled that action.

In Florida, a ballot measure passed by citizens last year requires that congressional districts be compact and contiguous, respect natural and political boundaries as much as possible and not favor either party. The state Senate has just released a draft congressional map; the U.S. Dept. of Justice will review.