This lengthy story, toward the bottom, reveals that a new poll shows Texas voters now say they would rather have an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission, than the current system in which the legislature draws districts for state legislative and U.S. House seats. The story also explains all the problems that still exist with the May 29 primary for 2012.
Hopefully Wentworth can get some traction on an independent redistricting commission now, because as soon as it is “out of sight, out of mind” the Reps and Dems will kick it down the road, i.e. ten years down the road.
I hope the Reps and Dems lose a lot of money on their litigation and convention snafu costs and it helps keep this in their mind.
Where is THE poll question —
Do you want REAL Democracy by having proportional representation for all legislative body elections – to replace minority rule gerrymander systems ???
Congress should pass an amendment to the VRA that says that a redistricting plan that is drawn by a body independent of the legislature:
(1) Without consideration of race;
(2) Without consideration of political results;
(3) Without consideration of the residence of incumbents or other potential candidates;
(4) Without consideration of current districts;
(5) Has objective measurements of compactness;
(6) Has objective measurements of population equality;
(7) Has objective measurements of respect for political subdivisions.
Does not have to be pre-cleared under Section 5 of the VRA.