Voters say gerrymandering is the biggest election problem in the US

[Rogue Valley]

Voters say gerrymandering is the biggest election problem in the US

4/6/21
Amid the ongoing fight over the recently passed Georgia election law -- and the subsequent decision by Major League Baseball to pull its All-Star Game out of Atlanta this summer -- you might reasonably conclude that efforts to restrict access to the ballot box would be the biggest election issue in the country. Or if not voter disenfranchisement, then voter fraud -- particularly as former President Donald Trump continues to try to discredit the 2020 election despite zero actual evidence of fraud. And you would be wrong! On both counts! It's actually gerrymandering -- the drawing of outlandish legislative and congressional districts for purely political reasons -- that bugs people the most. That's according to a new AP-NORC national poll, where two-thirds of Americans say that "states drawing legislative districts that intentionally favor one party" is a "major problem" in the country. That is far more than say that eligible voters being blocked from voting (46%) or non-eligible voters casting ballots (40%) are a "major problem" in US elections. Interesting, no? After all, redistricting -- while hugely important -- doesn't draw near the headlines (or passions) of voter disenfranchisement or allegations of voter fraud.

So what gives? Well, while voter fraud and voter disenfranchisement are seen through purely partisan lenses (Democrats are broadly supportive of the latter as a major problem; ditto Republicans on the former), gerrymandered districts are a wrong that impacts both parties. After all, when Democrats control the levers of powers in a state, history suggests they will seek to draw lines that maximize their numbers. Same goes for Republicans. Gerrymandering is something all sides can hate. Which is why 74% of Democrats, 60% of Republicans and 63% of independents all say that it's a major problem in the AP/NORC poll. Public opinion may well explain why the number of states that use either independent or bipartisan committees to redraw legislative and congressional district lines is on the rise in recent years.

Former POTUS Donald Trump, former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and the GOP tried their best to skewer the 2020 US Census to favor Republican gerrymandering. This is what the Supreme Court ruled after hearing a lawsuit about why Ross included a citizenship question in the 2020 Census. The US Constitution says a census should count ALL PEOPLE living in the United States rather than just US citizens. The difference is significant in redrawing Congressional districts.

It’s final: no citizenship question on 2020 census | Constitution Center

In a decision that seems sure to have a significant impact on American politics over the coming decade, the Trump Administration decided on Tuesday to carry out the 2020 census without asking everyone in the nation about their citizenship. The question, if asked, was likely to reduce the...

constitutioncenter.org

 

[Jetboogieman]

It is fragrantly one of the most anti-democratic practices and so obvious in its abusive execution, no one in their right mind should or could support it.

It needs urgent reform.

But I know it won't happen.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Voters say gerrymandering is the biggest election problem in the US

Former POTUS Donald Trump, former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and the GOP tried their best to skewer the 2020 US Census to favor Republican gerrymandering. This is what the Supreme Court ruled after hearing a lawsuit about why Ross included a citizenship question in the 2020 Census. The US Constitution says a census should count ALL PEOPLE living in the United States rather than just US citizens. The difference is significant in redrawing Congressional districts.

It’s final: no citizenship question on 2020 census | Constitution Center

In a decision that seems sure to have a significant impact on American politics over the coming decade, the Trump Administration decided on Tuesday to carry out the 2020 census without asking everyone in the nation about their citizenship. The question, if asked, was likely to reduce the...

constitutioncenter.org

Counting people while also gathering other demographic data are not mutually exclusive and are both important goals of the census.

As for gerrymandering, a simple rule which prevents any election district from having parts of more than one county should suffice to reduce it significantly.

My congressional district is one of the most gerrymandered in the country. It has parts of 5 counties (yet no entire county) and parts of two large cities about 80 miles apart.

Texas's 35th congressional district - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[CaughtInThe]

This guy's district...

 

[CaughtInThe]

THIS is the correct way to Gerrymander. You capture your opponents in a few districts and then win all the other districts by just a few hundred or a few thousand votes. It's brilliant...

 

[AGENT J]

Voters say gerrymandering is the biggest election problem in the US

Former POTUS Donald Trump, former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and the GOP tried their best to skewer the 2020 US Census to favor Republican gerrymandering. This is what the Supreme Court ruled after hearing a lawsuit about why Ross included a citizenship question in the 2020 Census. The US Constitution says a census should count ALL PEOPLE living in the United States rather than just US citizens. The difference is significant in redrawing Congressional districts.

It’s final: no citizenship question on 2020 census | Constitution Center

In a decision that seems sure to have a significant impact on American politics over the coming decade, the Trump Administration decided on Tuesday to carry out the 2020 census without asking everyone in the nation about their citizenship. The question, if asked, was likely to reduce the...

constitutioncenter.org

Of course it is, its one of the worse things we the people are screwed over by
and yes right now and in recent history, it has been the upper powers of the republicans who are more guilty of this but throughout history, all sides have done it and it needs fixed and prevented

Ill be impressed if anything REAL is done though, because like i said its a power thing and both sides have participated in it . . will they really give up that power? we'll see

 

[Perotista]

Voters say gerrymandering is the biggest election problem in the US

Former POTUS Donald Trump, former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and the GOP tried their best to skewer the 2020 US Census to favor Republican gerrymandering. This is what the Supreme Court ruled after hearing a lawsuit about why Ross included a citizenship question in the 2020 Census. The US Constitution says a census should count ALL PEOPLE living in the United States rather than just US citizens. The difference is significant in redrawing Congressional districts.

It’s final: no citizenship question on 2020 census | Constitution Center

In a decision that seems sure to have a significant impact on American politics over the coming decade, the Trump Administration decided on Tuesday to carry out the 2020 census without asking everyone in the nation about their citizenship. The question, if asked, was likely to reduce the...

constitutioncenter.org

Gerrymandering ought to be outlawed, no doubt about it. Gerrymandering is where representatives choose their voters instead of the voters choosing their representative. If one is honest, both parties utilize gerrymandering to the max when they can. The Democrats did so after the 2010 census in Illinois and New York. The GOP in Texas, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. This isn't a one party problem. You can bet each party will gerrymander the heck out of the states they can after reapportionment and redistricting.

As for the citizenship question. I think the government needs to know how many citizens and how many non-citizens are living in this country. For that reason, the question seems reasonable. The question doesn't hinder one bit the ability to count everyone which should be done. Now the Constitution states this: "The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of congress of the United States and within every subsequent term of ten years in such a manner as they shall by law direct."

If one goes by plain English, the Constitution lets it up to congress to pass the laws that on how and who should be counted. Of course I don't speak lawyerese, just plain old English. I take what the Constitution states in plain English it is up to congress whether everyone or just citizens will be counted for reapportionment.

 

[Linc]

Counting people while also gathering other demographic data are not mutually exclusive and are both important goals of the census.

As for gerrymandering, a simple rule which prevents any election district from having parts of more than one county should suffice to reduce it significantly.

My congressional district is one of the most gerrymandered in the country. It has parts of 5 counties (yet no entire county) and parts of two large cities about 80 miles apart.

Texas's 35th congressional district - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Republicans have been writing your gerrymandered districts since 1990.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Republicans have been writing your gerrymandered districts since 1990.

Which party holds majority power should not matter.

 

[Linc]

THIS is the correct way to Gerrymander. You capture your opponents in a few districts and then win all the other districts by just a few hundred or a few thousand votes. It's brilliant...

N.C. had maps for CDs, HDs, and SDs thrown out twice last decade by the courts. GOPs have only just begun.

TX gains 3 seats with reapportionment, FL gains 2, and MT and N.C. each gain one. All four states heavily gerrymander.

 

[Linc]

Which party holds majority power should not matter.

Except you know that it does matter in your TX, as they enter their 4th straight decade with GOP gerrymandered maps. TX was one of ten GOP states to have its maps thrown out last decade.

 

[CaughtInThe]

Read the text under this picture...

"On 3 September 2019 a three-judge panel in a 357 page ruling unanimously struck down the Republican-led state legislature drawn 2017 enacted maps, which were drawn to replace the 2011 maps which were also ruled unconstitutional and thrown out on racial grounds. The court ruled that the state House and state Senate districts maps were such an extreme partisan gerrymander that they violated the state constitution. In the ruling the state legislature was ordered by the court to immediately start drawing new maps; the court demanded that they be drawn based on criteria like population, contiguity, and county lines. Districts had to be drawn without "partisan considerations and election results data," and done so in plain view, a departure from the closed-door processes the ruling eschews. "At a minimum, that would require all map drawing to occur at public hearings, with any relevant computer screen visible to legislators and public observers." The judges said the new maps had to be completed in two weeks; they also said they reserved the right to move the 2020 primary election if needed.

In October 2019, a panel of three judges ruled that the map was an unfair partisan gerrymander and had to be redrawn. On 15 November 2019 the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill that drew new districts that were used for the 2020 elections. The 2nd and 6th districts were drawn to be more favorable to Democrats under the new proposal. On 2 December 2019 a three-judge panel ruled that newly Republican-drawn congressional district maps completed in November 2019 would stand for federal elections in 2020. The maps allowed to stay in place on 2 December 2019 would only be used once. After the 2020 United States Census the congressional districts will be redrawn again in 2021"

 

[Juks]

Read the text under this picture...

"On 3 September 2019 a three-judge panel in a 357 page ruling unanimously struck down the Republican-led state legislature drawn 2017 enacted maps, which were drawn to replace the 2011 maps which were also ruled unconstitutional and thrown out on racial grounds. The court ruled that the state House and state Senate districts maps were such an extreme partisan gerrymander that they violated the state constitution. In the ruling the state legislature was ordered by the court to immediately start drawing new maps; the court demanded that they be drawn based on criteria like population, contiguity, and county lines. Districts had to be drawn without "partisan considerations and election results data," and done so in plain view, a departure from the closed-door processes the ruling eschews. "At a minimum, that would require all map drawing to occur at public hearings, with any relevant computer screen visible to legislators and public observers." The judges said the new maps had to be completed in two weeks; they also said they reserved the right to move the 2020 primary election if needed.

In October 2019, a panel of three judges ruled that the map was an unfair partisan gerrymander and had to be redrawn. On 15 November 2019 the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill that drew new districts that were used for the 2020 elections. The 2nd and 6th districts were drawn to be more favorable to Democrats under the new proposal. On 2 December 2019 a three-judge panel ruled that newly Republican-drawn congressional district maps completed in November 2019 would stand for federal elections in 2020. The maps allowed to stay in place on 2 December 2019 would only be used once. After the 2020 United States Census the congressional districts will be redrawn again in 2021"

Okay, 60 % of the Republicans think that gerrymanding is a problem. You are doing your best to make them change their minds. I can't say I am onboard or that I which you the best of luck. But everyone needs a quest, I guess more gerrymanding in Republican states is yours...

 

[mrjurrs]

Voters say gerrymandering is the biggest election problem in the US

Former POTUS Donald Trump, former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and the GOP tried their best to skewer the 2020 US Census to favor Republican gerrymandering. This is what the Supreme Court ruled after hearing a lawsuit about why Ross included a citizenship question in the 2020 Census. The US Constitution says a census should count ALL PEOPLE living in the United States rather than just US citizens. The difference is significant in redrawing Congressional districts.

It’s final: no citizenship question on 2020 census | Constitution Center

In a decision that seems sure to have a significant impact on American politics over the coming decade, the Trump Administration decided on Tuesday to carry out the 2020 census without asking everyone in the nation about their citizenship. The question, if asked, was likely to reduce the...

constitutioncenter.org

That surprises me because American voters tend not to look into the fine points. They are however, correct imo.

 

[Buckeyes85]

What does a supposedly non partisan or bipartisan group of congressional district mappers look like?

 

[Razoo]

Gerrymandering = a sport conservatives designed that happens frequently because the group itself represents 20% of the population
thus winning elections generally should not be possible so resorting to any form of voter suppression becomes attractive.

 

[CaughtInThe]

Okay, 60 % of the Republicans think that gerrymanding is a problem. You are doing your best to make them change their minds. I can't say I am onboard or that I which you the best of luck. But everyone needs a quest, I guess more gerrymanding in Republican states is yours...

 

[ttwtt78640]

Except you know that it does matter in your TX, as they enter their 4th straight decade with GOP gerrymandered maps. TX was one of ten GOP states to have its maps thrown out last decade.

That is implying that states under demorat majority control do not create gerrymandered district maps.

 

[Juks]

You all seem to be determinant to take this discussion absolutely nowhere. The figures in this survey are clear. The majority of you agree, Who ever is doing it, gerrymandering is a bad thing for your country and for your democracy. This is not a subject for arguing, it is a subject for an opening to change something.

I am going to make a detour into Swedish politics to try and make you see it. We have a government that rules in minority. It is the Socialist democrats together with the Green Party. They govern with the help of an agreement with the liberal parties. One condition for that agreement is that the goverment install a lot of libertarian politics and another that they keep the other socialistic party out of the loop. Thing is that without the other socialistic party (Called the left party) they do not form a majority even with the liberal parties. What they counted on was that the left party is further from the 3 conservative parties on the right so they would not vote against the government anyway. But they have. On several occasion they have found questions where they are closer to the conservative than to the libertarians and the government together with the libertian parties have been forced to back down as the conservatives together with the left party has formed and enforced different political measures in the parliament.

I am trying to say that in some occasion you will find yourselves on the same side. Carpe diem!!! Don’t lose the opportunity this gives you. Use it to change things!

 

[iguanaman]

It is fragrantly one of the most anti-democratic practices and so obvious in its abusive execution, no one in their right mind should or could support it.

It needs urgent reform.

But I know it won't happen.

Yes that is true. Here in Florida we actually voted in a referendum to end gerrymandering in 2010 . The Republicans just ignored it.

The background: Florida voters banned partisan gerrymandering in 2010 — yet Republicans kept winning tons of the state's congressional seats
Back in 2010, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment banning partisan gerrymandering. The strongly worded amendment, which passed with more than 62 percent support, said that districts "may not be drawn to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party."

Yet Florida's map-drawing process was still left to the state legislature, then controlled by Republicans. And when the legislature redistricted shortly afterward, the maps it came up with seemed to many to be slanted in favor of the GOP. Indeed, in 2012 Republicans got 51 percent of the US House votes — but they ended up with 63 percent of the seats, 17 out of 27.

https://www.vox.com/2015/12/5/9851152/florida-gerrymandering-ruling