The Case for Eliminating Gerrymandering and Reforming Political Representation in the United States

For a long time, Democrats have accused Republicans of using gerrymandering to skew congressional district maps and ensure that the voters they want to represent are chosen. I firmly believe that gerrymandering is damaging to both our nation and our democracy. In fact, I believe it must be eliminated, and that every state should find a way to place redistricting entirely out of the control of political operators, with the process under the sole control of the people.

Historical Context and Justifications for Reform

While Democrats invented the process of gerrymandering 220 years ago, they have spoken against it for less than 30 years. This shift in perspective has been instrumental in the current movement to restructure the electoral system in the United States. Abolishing congressional districts entirely and implementing a more equitable system of representation, such as one representative for every 10,000 people, would be a significant step forward.

Apart from this, striking down the outdated and flawed voting system and replacing it with a more modern and efficient system would be crucial. This represents a necessary evolution in our democratic institutions to ensure that the people truly have a voice in the political process.

Addressing Supporters of Gerrymandering

Supporters of gerrymandering often admit that it is a destructive practice. However, the most obvious and effective solution is to support the efforts of Democrats to impose a federal ban on gerrymandering. While this may not be feasible at the state level, as the Ohio GOP demonstrated, state-level bans can still serve as a significant deterrent to this practice.

For instance, my state appointed a bipartisan commission of legislators and citizens. However, when disagreement arose, redistricting fell to the State Supreme Court. The key to success, in my opinion, is to eliminate politicians from the redistricting process altogether. Each of the 43 states with more than one representative should hire professionals such as geographers, cartographers, population studies professors, and others to form a redistricting commission. These commissions should consist of 9 or 11 members, drawn from a hat to determine which state they will redistrict. No commission should redistrict the state that hired it.

Rules and Guidelines for Redistricting

For redistricting to be truly effective, certain rules should govern the process. Each district should be compact, contiguous, and equal in population. No district should be drawn to include or exclude any specific class or political affiliation. The only consideration should be the number of people. This ensures that each voter has an equal say in the political process.

In conclusion, eliminating gerrymandering is not just a matter of fairness but a critical step in preserving the integrity of our democracy. By implementing a more equitable representation system and redistricting process, we can ensure that every vote counts and that every voice is heard.