Virginia voters on Tuesday will decide whether to ratify an unusual mid-decade redrawing of U.S. House districts that could boost Democrats’ chances of flipping control of the closely divided chamber, as the state becomes the latest front in a national redistricting battle.
A proposed constitutional amendment backed by Democratic officials would bypass the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission to allow use of new congressional districts approved by state lawmakers in this year’s midterm elections.
The referendum tests Democrats’ ability to push back against Donald Trump, who started the gerrymandering competition between states after successfully urging Texas Republicans to redraw congressional districts in their favor last year. Virginia would be the second state, after California last fall, to put the question to voters.
It was my understanding that, if passed, it would negate the fuckery done by Republicans in other states, but it would not add a net gain, just prevent the theft of seats.
well, sort of. Trying to offset Republican gerrymandering with Democratic gerrymandering. whether the scales balance will be a good question in 6-12 months. Gotta love the two party system…
The only thing ‘special’ here is the timing. Usually both sides wait until after the census to put their thumbs on the scale. Now the more sane parts of the Republican party know that they’re in trouble if they don’t break the system further while they have a chance. If more people vote in freer, fairer elections, they’ll lose. Meanwhile The Democratic Do-nothings know if they don’t rally some sort of defense, they might not have a chance to come midterms.
so. effing. tired.
so. effing. tired.
☝️
I did my part!
The solution is to have a standard computer program draw the districts for all states. Then the problem of gerrymandering will disappear.
There is no perfect solution, no matter what you do you are going to pick some winners and losers. That’s the thing that’s sucks about drawing districts, it can be done apolitically, but will always have political consequences.
Yes, but the winners must be chosen fairly.
But who writes the computer program?
The US government would have companies submit bids. The winner would write the program.
That’s the same supply chain vulnerability seen with election voting machines. Surely we can do something cryptographically secure, open source, publicly auditable. Then, I don’t really care who builds it.
AI of course /s
Good luck VA! (I’m guessing the ayes win by 6)
SCrOTUS will just throw it out.
