This Week in Gerrymandering

[Quipling]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/us/pennsylvania-maps-congress.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...nconstitutionally-gerrymandered-idUSKBN1FB2N8

"The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday threw out the state’s congressional map as unconstitutionally gerrymandered and gave lawmakers until Feb. 9 to redraw the boundaries, a decision that will have major ramifications for the 2018 midterm elections."


Pennsylvania has 18 congressional seats. Despite near-even voting patterns, Republicans have held a large majority since the 2010 redistricting (supermajority from 2012 on).

north carolina thread:
http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/north-carolina-a-voting-rights-hellhole.3689641/#post-137446625

 

[zebby23]

Glad to see they are finally getting around to fixing this mess.

 

[Fawlty]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/us/pennsylvania-maps-congress.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...nconstitutionally-gerrymandered-idUSKBN1FB2N8

"The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday threw out the state’s congressional map as unconstitutionally gerrymandered and gave lawmakers until Feb. 9 to redraw the boundaries, a decision that will have major ramifications for the 2018 midterm elections."


Pennsylvania has 18 congressional seats. Despite near-even voting patterns, Republicans have held a large majority since the 2010 redistricting (supermajority from 2012 on).

north carolina thread:
http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/north-carolina-a-voting-rights-hellhole.3689641/#post-137446625

Thanks for the update.

I was thinking, if the SC waits until close to June to rule and it somehow, by some miracle, goes against the Republicans, there will be a crazy ass scramble to redraw the districts, and voters in some places may be in limbo right up until the midterms. Even if that ruling came in March, it could still be an issue.

 

[PainIsLIfe]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/22/us/pennsylvania-maps-congress.html
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...nconstitutionally-gerrymandered-idUSKBN1FB2N8

"The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday threw out the state’s congressional map as unconstitutionally gerrymandered and gave lawmakers until Feb. 9 to redraw the boundaries, a decision that will have major ramifications for the 2018 midterm elections."


Pennsylvania has 18 congressional seats. Despite near-even voting patterns, Republicans have held a large majority since the 2010 redistricting (supermajority from 2012 on).

north carolina thread:
http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/north-carolina-a-voting-rights-hellhole.3689641/#post-137446625

I don't want to derail, but in my state (and many others) Dems gerrymandered districts when they had the power. When the GOP got control they did the same - it seems the real issue is that the GOP did a better job of it...


Edit: to expound on the subject:
In 1991, the General Assembly [VA] was still controlled by the Democrats. They created a redistricting map to extend that control by placing 18 House Republicans into nine districts

The post-1990 Census redistricting cycle revised the boundaries of the Third District for US House of Representatives to establish a "majority-minority" district, one where black voters were concentrated and likely to elect their preferred candidate.

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

Man, this thread's lighting up!

Not surprising, considering how important everyone feels their vote is.

 

[HunterSdVa29]

if anything, it's interesting just to see how it plays out

 

[7437]

I wonder if they will just do the same thing again repeatedly until the election

 

[woodguyatl]

I don't want to derail, but in my state (and many others) Dems gerrymandered districts when they had the power. When the GOP got control they did the same - it seems the real issue is that the GOP did a better job of it...


Edit: to expound on the subject:
In 1991, the General Assembly [VA] was still controlled by the Democrats. They created a redistricting map to extend that control by placing 18 House Republicans into nine districts

The post-1990 Census redistricting cycle revised the boundaries of the Third District for US House of Representatives to establish a "majority-minority" district, one where black voters were concentrated and likely to elect their preferred candidate.

Sadly, both parties are equally guilty of this. The Dems are going to get in trouble in Maryland. This needs to be sorted out. Technology can be part of solution in the same way the it is part of the problem. The advanced information analysis that has made gerrymandering so effective over the last 20 years can also be used to maximize the value of each vote regardless of party. (I don't understand the technology beyond that but smarter people than me have told me it is true.) As much as I would like liberals to control government I would trade that in an instant for a government that accurately reflects the will of the people as a whole.

 

[second sight]

How did Texas work out

 

[HomerThompson]

Washington (CNN)The Supreme Court declined Monday a request from Pennsylvania Republicans to block a lower court ruling that ordered Pennsylvania to redraw congressional lines.


https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/05/politics/supreme-court-pennsylvania-redistricting/index.html

Good news for the country, and for Democrats in Pennsylvania specifically.

 

[FacePunch]

It is time for the popular vote in the US. Nothing else makes sense. The electoral college has been twisted and abused beyond any recognition.

The midwest is a shithole, and fuck the dumbass inbred hicks who live there. Fuck em all.

 

[HomerThompson]

It is time for the popular vote in the US. Nothing else makes sense. The electoral college has been twisted and abused beyond any recognition.

The midwest is a shithole, and fuck the dumbass inbred hicks who live there. Fuck em all.

This is about gerrymandering congressional districts. It doesn't affect Presidential, or Senate elections.

 

[Gregolian]

It is time for the popular vote in the US.

With the TidePod generation being able to vote the next go around you do know this means we get like fucking Kanye West's moronic ass in there too right?

 

[FacePunch]

This is about gerrymandering congressional districts. It doesn't affect Presidential, or Senate elections.

Fair enough. They should just use the district lines that actually exist: counties.

My point still stands though.

 

[FacePunch]

With the TidePod generation being able to vote the next go around you do know this means we get like fucking Kanye West's moronic ass in there too right?

After the joke of a government we have now, fine.

 

[Quipling]

Update: Scotus has declined to hear an appeal. Partisan gerrymandering has been struck down in PA.

How did Texas work out

Well, one Texas challenge was denied for lack of jurisdiction,but another is pending before SCOTUS. And this challenge in this thread was successful.

I don't know why you're bringing that up, though. Those dealt with federal challenges; this is state court and state law. If you're getting all "take that libs" you should be aware of the TX, NC, and WY challenges. Also, you should be ashamed of your nakedly partisan shitposting, but I don't think that you're capable.

 

[zebby23]

So the US Supreme Court issued a ruling today which would allow the state of Pennsylvania to continue to re-draw it's congressional districts which is a big win for Democrats.

A lower court ruled correctly that the Republicans drew the boundaries to favor Republicans and that court said that Pennsylvania had to re-draw the maps which of course Republicans opposed. The Republicans who hold 13 of the 18 congressional seats have until this Friday to submit newly drawn districts to the Democratic Governor for approval.

A new map potentially could give Democratic candidates a chance to pick up several Republican-held seats in Pennsylvania alone, with national polls showing voters strongly favoring Democrats in 2018 over President Donald Trump’s party.

This isn't the first time Republicans have lost on this issue. A federal court on Jan. 9 ordered Republican-draw congressional districts in North Carolina to be redrawn, saying the partisan gerrymandering violated the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law by intentionally hobbling the electoral strength of non-Republican voters.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...p-of-pennsylvania-electoral-map-idUSKBN1FP2E0

 

[Quipling]

So the US Supreme Court issued a ruling today which would allow the state of Pennsylvania to continue to re-draw it's congressional districts which is a big win for Democrats.

A lower court ruled correctly that the Republicans drew the boundaries to favor Republicans and that court said that Pennsylvania had to re-draw the maps which of course Republicans opposed. The Republicans who hold 13 of the 18 congressional seats have until this Friday to submit newly drawn districts to the Democratic Governor for approval.

A new map potentially could give Democratic candidates a chance to pick up several Republican-held seats in Pennsylvania alone, with national polls showing voters strongly favoring Democrats in 2018 over President Donald Trump’s party.

This isn't the first time Republicans have lost on this issue. A federal court on Jan. 9 ordered Republican-draw congressional districts in North Carolina to be redrawn, saying the partisan gerrymandering violated the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law by intentionally hobbling the electoral strength of non-Republican voters.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...p-of-pennsylvania-electoral-map-idUSKBN1FP2E0

Note that the PA loss is finalized, but the ruling is limited to PA under the PA state constitution.

The other cases are pending before SCOTUS and relate to the federal constitution

 

[Big Nasty Edison]

Gerrymandering and project redmap getting btfo!!!!

 

[7437]

Good. This needs to be everywhere. Only the most unamerican pieces of shit favor gerrymandering.