Monday, June 29, 2015

Supreme Court OKs Independent Commissions Drawing Districts

In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Arizona's independent redistricting commission in a decision that will effect similar programs of drawing congressional district boundaries in five other states and end efforts to adopt changes in other states.

Advocates of change say partisan gerrymandering by state legislatures has tied Congress in knots. Because most members are now elected from safe districts, they see no incentive for compromise, adding to congressional gridlock, the advocates say.

Fifteen years ago, voters in Arizona came up with an alternative, assigning the task of redrawing congressional district boundaries to a five-member independent commission. It drew its first map after the 2010 census. 


Source: NBC News

No comments: