Fair redistricting to reshape politics

Proposed constitutional amendments 5 and 6, included on the ballot Nov. 2, have one goal: to end gerrymandering in Florida.

The "fair districts" amendments put forth by citizens initiative order the Legislature to draw legislative and congressional districts without favoring one party or the incumbent.

Democrats out of power support the amendments. Republicans seeking to retain power together with their allies in business want them defeated.

The truth is both parties draw lines to help themselves when in the majority. Amendments 5 and 6 would make it more difficult for lawmakers to stack the deck for incumbents and bring sanity to a loopy reapportionment process. They deserve voters' support.

Put simply, the amendments would require lawmakers to draw "compact" and "contiguous" districts for both the Legislature and Congress in 2012 following the U.S. census. The districts should be as equal in population as feasible and not discriminate on the basis of race or language.

The only restrictions on redistricting now are that districts must be contiguous and the map must follow federal law and the Voting Rights Act.

That freedom has allowed the Legislature to draw crazy boundaries that may result in a legislator living hundreds of miles from his farthest constituent or a city the size of Temple Terrace being represented by three congressmen.

The current system empowers politicians, not voters.

Approving the proposed standards would bring order to the process. Wedges should not be driven between communities, counties and voters.

Because the current system tends to lump like-minded voters in the same districts, elected officials often have little incentive to listen to opposing views.

Democrats in safe districts can be as liberal as they like without regard for the welfare of small business owners. Similarly safe Republican lawmakers can dismiss the concerns of union members.
Better districts would likely result in elected officials who listened to all their constituents.

It should be stressed these amendments probably would not change the Republican's dominance in state government. Republicans hold three-quarters of the seats in the Legislature, though the state is fairly evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

This is often cited as a result of gerrymandering, and no doubt some is involved.

But researchers from Stanford University and the University of Michigan conducted a study of complex computer simulations of elections and found that Republicans would still win 59 percent of the districts because more Democrats are concentrated in cities while Republicans live in more rural parts of the state.

Regardless, districts that are drawn to reflect communities, rather than to segregate voters according to party, would require elected officials to be more thoughtful and responsive.

Moreover, the number of registered voters is only one variable in how elections are decided. Voter turnout, ideological preferences and the amount of money spent on a campaign also play a role.
Republicans should see the changes pose little threat to their party's prospects.

Voters have good reason to support amendments 5 and 6. A logical electoral map that keeps neighborhoods together could reinvigorate a healthy election system where voters pick their politicians rather than the other way around.

The amendments are aimed at getting rid of rigged results and offering a truer representation of voters. The Tampa Tribune recommends yes votes on amendments 5 and 6.