Gerrymandering

Last week, the New York Times offered a look at some of the worst Gerrymandered congressional districts in the United States. In most states, districts are drawn by members of the political party that controls the state legislature. The result is that "safe" districts are created for representatives; often drawn to include certain types of voters. The Illinois District 17, below, was drawn to include precincts that primarily vote Democratic, to insure that the Democratic incumbent will be re-elected.



After the 2000 Census, when Ohio had to lose a couple seats in Congress, Republicans carefully drew the lines of the 3rd and 8th Districts to dilute the votes of primarily Democratic Dayton, and ensure the election of Mike Turner in the 3rd, and re-election of John Boehner in the 8th.



The preliminary results of the 2010 Census indicate that Ohio will lose one or two more seats in Congress. The November state legislature elections will likely determine the fate of congressional districts in Ohio and many other states.

Via The Map Room

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