You Must Act To Stop Gerrymandering Now!
The U.S. Supreme Court Has Decided Gerrymandering is Wrong - Now You Must Take Advantage
John A. Smith, August 25, 2015
On July 29, 2015, four days after the U.S. Supreme Court voted in favor of gay marriage and upheld "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (aka "Obamacare") for the 2nd time, they ruled in favor of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. They were being sued by the Republican controlled Arizona State Legislature over who had the right to draw the "Voting District" boundary lines in Arizona State Legislature v Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission . But if people don't take action to take the advantages of that decision it won't mean anything.
The reason how the lines are drawn is so important is because the Republicans are in control of a majority of states. As a result of the 2012 elections, the Republicans were in control of a majority of states with 30 gubernatorial offices and 27 state legislatures. The Democrats held 19 governorships and have the majority in 18 legislatures. Now, in 2015 there are 31 Republican Governors, 35 Republican controlled State Senates, and 34 State Houses of Representatives. The Republicans have full control in 27 states. "Click" or "Tap" here to see who controls YOUR state. They found another way to cheat in the election process. If you look at the next section, "Gerrymandering" is explained, with an example given. Basically, knowing how certain neighborhoods, minorities, and other groups, are going to vote, the Republican controlled Legislatures draw the voting district lines so that even though everyone is still going to vote the way they are going to vote, the Republicans would actually "pick-up" districts that they wouldn't have without cheating with gerrymandering. See the example below.
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| An example of Gerrymandering: On the left district lines are drawn geographically, each party has equal chance for the vote. The "Pink Party" wins all 4 districts (or Counties). On the right, lines have been redrawn, "gerrymandered" and the pink dot party will win only 3 out of 4 districts, the "Green Party" wins a district (or County) that it wouldn't have otherwise won. When enough districts are won through gerrymandering it sometimes causes that party to win all the electoral votes for that state! |
Gerrymandering:
An example of Gerrymandering: In the above illustration you have an example of let's say a county. the county has 4 voting districts. The lines show how voting district lines may appear before and after gerrymandering, Before gerrymandering each of the 4 voting districts in the county on the left have 8 "Pink" neighborhoods, and 7 "Green" neighborhoods. Therefore the pink party would win all voting districts. On the right we have the same county, only the 4 voting district's lines have been "Redrawn" or "Gerrymandered." If you notice the "Green Party" will now win one of the districts, heavily in fact (14-2), and the "Pink" party would only win 3 voting districts. Therefore the "Green" party just stole a district, heavily, by gerrymandering, or, "redrawing" the lines. In this example none of the neighborhoods (or expected voters) changed, just how the district lines were drawn changed. Now, if you had a where you have an equal number of voting districts for Republicans, and for Democrats, and you redrew the lines to gerrymander even one district, you would cause all of the electoral votes to go to the party that did the gerrymandering. That would give any national politician a win by cheating! That's right, The President, and 2 U.S. Senators for each state could be decided by gerrymandering, even though the number of people voting, and their votes didn't change at all. Right now there are 38 States that have Republican Governors and almost as many Republican State Legislatures. The State Legislatures are drawing the "Voting District" lines in many of those states, and that is where the gerrymandering is being done. The U.S. Supreme Court decided on July 29th of this year in favor of the "Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission" the defendant, in a case where the "Arizona State Legislature" the plaintiff, sued to have the right to have the State Legislature draw the lines and do away with the Independent Redistricting Commission. The U.S. Supreme Court said that having an Independent Commission drawing the voting district lines is constitutional and fair.Now it's up to the states that don't have an Independent Redistricting Commission, or one that has the authority to draw the voting district lines, to get a commission in place, with the authority it needs to draw those all important lines. So, the U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for gerrymandering to end, but it's up to the voters in each of those states to do their part. Do you live in a state where a Republican State Legislature is drawing the voting district lines? Here is a complete list of states showing who is controlling YOUR State Legislature "Tap" or "Click" here for the 2015 State Governors and Legislatures. The State Legislatures are made up of State Senators, and the State House of Representatives (or Assemblymen). The "House" (or Assembly) and "Senate" IS the State Legislature. When you click the link above, if your state is shaded in gray on that list, you live in a state where the Republicans are controlling your State Legislature. You should contact your State Senators office, and your State Legislators (Assemblymen), and ask them if there is an "Independent Commission" in charge of drawing district voting lines. If not, tell them you want an independent commission in charge of drawing the voting district lines. Look for, or start, a petition to get an independent commission to draw the district voting lines in your state. Here is how you can find out who YOUR State Senators and Legislators are, AND how to contact them. Please do this NOW if you are in one of the gray shaded states on the list. Click HERE to Find YOUR State Assemblyman and State Senator by typing in your address HERE .
This is Where You Come In
"Tap" or "Click" on this link 2015 Governors and Legislatures to see who your Governor is as well as how many Republicans (Red) and Democrats (Blue) are in your State Senate and your State House of Representatives (or Assembly). If you live in one of the 32 states that are controlled by Republicans chances are you may have gerrymandering happening in your state. You probably also have Voter ID (disenfranchising) Laws being signed into law, but that's the next post, followed by "Money in Politics."
If you live in a state where gerrymandering is taking place, to take advantage of the U.S. Supreme Court decision you must do the following:
2) If your State Legislature is drawing the lines you must CONTACT your State Senators, and Representatives (whether it's State House of Representatives or State Assembly) and tell them you are in favor of an "Independent Redistricting Commission" to draw "Voting District" lines as approved by the U.S. Supreme Court on July 29, 2015. At the end of this post there are links for you to FIND and CONTACT your Representatives by entering your Zip Code, or for State and Local politicians you enter your Zip Code and Address. These links give you everyone that represents you in Government. Also you may want to start a petition (look for an activist group in your area, you'll probably find one that is already fighting gerrymandering and can tell you how you can help) to demand that an Independent Redistricting Commission be formed to draw redistricting lines.
3) If you find that there is an Independent Redistricting Commission make sure they have the permanent authority to draw the voting district lines. If they don't start a petition, and contact your Representatives to tell them you want that commission to have the permanent authority to draw the voting district lines.
THAT'S IT! YOU CAN STOP THE ELECTION PROCESS FROM BEING CHEATED!
Let YOUR Representatives Know What YOU Think
To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR State
and Local Legislators enter your
Address and
Zip Code at:Open States: http://openstates.org/find_
To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR U.S. Congressmen/women enter your Zip Code at:
Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/
To FIND, and CONTACT, YOUR U.S. Senators enter your Zip Code at:
Senate.gov: http://senate.gov/
I have provided the links above to assist you in finding and contacting YOUR Representatives simply by typing in your zip code
(or address and Zip Code for your local and State politicians)
at those sites. By contacting them by phone or e-mail you will
let them know that you ARE paying attention to what they are doing, and
what YOU want them to do.
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