Are you troubled by all the partisan gerrymandering that is deforming so many of our states? Does it go against your sense of fairness and reason?
I have an idea for a simple geometric plan that would eliminate the gerrymandering of Congressional districts — across the United States — forever. This plan is fair, non-partisan, and non-discriminatory. It makes no attempt to keep certain “types” of people in one district, or to spread them out over several districts.
It has four rules:
1. If a state or a section of a state has an even number of Congressional districts, cut the state or section in half by population.
2. If a state or a section of a state has an odd number of districts, find its geographic center and build a square district around it. Then cut the remainder of the state or section in half by population.
3. If an even-numbered state or section is longer in an East-West direction, make the cut with a line running from North to South; and vice-versa.
4. Repeat the above as needed.
Simple, right? Let’s look at some examples:
Kansas has four Congressional districts and is longer in an East-West direction. Start by drawing a line from North to South such that half of the state’s population is West of the line, and half is East of it. Next, cut the Western “half” of Kansas into two districts with equal populations; do the same with the Eastern half.
Alabama has seven Congressional districts. Since seven is an odd number, find the geographic center of the state and build a square around it — one that holds a seventh of the state’s population. That leaves six districts. Alabama is longer North-South, so cut the remainder of the state with a line running from West to East — forming two large sections, each with three districts. Since three is an odd number, find the geographic center of each section and build a square around it. Then cut each remaining two-district section in half.
California is the most populous state, with 52 Congressional districts. Since it is longer in a North-South direction, draw a line from West to East in such a way that 26 districts are North of that line, and 26 districts are South of it. Divide each vast section in half, leaving four 13-district sections. Since 13 is an odd number, find the geographic centers of each of those four large sections and build a square district around it.
I’ll leave the rest to you.
Who could argue with the fairness of this approach which was arrived at without regard to race, color, creed, wealth, or party?
Could this plan become law? In order for it to be approved by Congress, the legislation might have to specify that the plan won’t take effect for x number of years. The further out in time, the harder it would be for either political party or its candidates to predict whom it would advantage.
I think the party that proposes this plan in Congress will gain some measure of credibility with the voting public, especially with independent voters.
by Steven J. Maricic
