Ohio redistricting: a proposal to ditch politicians for citizens

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   Credence2posted 23 months ago

   I like it..
   
   This proposal is a bit involved, but that may well be what it takes.
   
   https://news.yahoo.com/ohio-redistricti … 04444.html
   
   Partisan gerrymandering by either political party for drawing statehouse and congressional districts has been problematic and gives an advantage to either side involved in the gerrymandering at the expense of one man/one vote.
   
   An independent,non partisan approach to drawing maps to include Republicans, Democrats and Independent may well serve as a model as to how the problem is handled in other states.
   
   Gerrymandering is a form of cheating allowing hyperpartisan interests to carve up the state and its voters to their advantage in drawing up district maps. It becomes difficult to dislodge them even with an overwhelming popular vote to the contrary. Why should they be concerned about the wishes of the majority when it becomes impossible to challenge or remove them? Much like the gall we saw from GOP legislators during Amendment 1 ballot initiative in Ohio earlier this month.
   
   It is always good to provide a timely reminder to legislatures and legislators as to who it is that they are to serve and work for..... they are not free to act against wishes of the majority of the voting public.
   
   Let me guess, Conservatives would be against that because it provides too much democracy? Can't have too much of that.....

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      Sharlee01posted 23 months agoin reply to this

      Hey, I missed this!
      
      Cred
      I think while the idea of an independent and non-partisan approach to drawing electoral districts seems appealing at first glance,  there may be some flaws and challenges associated with this approach that need to be considered.  Could it be important to acknowledge that the issue of partisan gerrymandering is indeed problematic, but the proposed solution might not be as effective or straightforward as it appears?
      For instance, an independent redistricting commission might lack accountability to the public. Since these commissions are not directly elected by the people, they could potentially make decisions without being held responsible for their outcomes. In my view, this lack of accountability could undermine the democratic process.
      
      Achieving true non-partisanship in the composition of an independent commission would be a significant challenge. The selection process for commission members could still be influenced by political actors, making it difficult to guarantee a completely neutral body.  This very well could lead to accusations of bias and favoritism.
      
      It would seem, that drawing district lines requires a good understanding of demographics, population distribution, and legal requirements. An independent commission might lack the necessary expertise to ensure fair and effective districting.   There's a risk that certain communities might be underrepresented if the commission members are not knowledgeable about local dynamics.
      
      Consider, that if the commission includes members from different political backgrounds, reaching a consensus on district boundaries might prove challenging. This could lead to prolonged periods of deadlock, delaying the redistricting process and potentially causing legal and logistical issues.
      
      District lines that are fair and balanced at one point in time might become less representative as demographics and political landscapes shift. The rigid nature of drawn lines could hinder adaptability to changing circumstances.
      
      Even with an independent commission, it would be difficult to completely get rid of the process from political considerations. The idea of 'one man/one vote' might not be entirely achievable due to the complexity of representing diverse communities.
      
      Shar
      
      Thanks for posting this thread, it really got me thinking and encouraged me to do some research on the subject.

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         Credence2posted 23 months agoin reply to this

         Hi, Sharlee, thanks for your attention
         
         I was thinking that maybe something as simple as appointing members from within the legislative body itself, a committee as it were, with equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans and what independents are available. Much like the committee assignments in congress in DC.
         
         The opposing sides would serve to keep everybody honest as to fair apportionment. And, yes, there will be consternation, but compromise will have to be reached and it has to be better than boundaries being drawn by any one political party without challenge.
         
         There will always be the challenge of change due to demographics, but I rather it be dealt with from a point of neutrality, assured by imput from representatives of all parties concerned.
         
         Because what we have now is not working. Let me know what else that you have found out regarding this, thanks....

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