Three Arizona Republican legislators have introduced HCR 2009, a proposed state constitutional amendment. It would provide that voters elect members of the Redistricting Commission every ten years, in partisan statewide elections. The elections would be in the same years in which the census is held, for example, 2000, 2010, 2020. Here is the text of the bill. If the legislature passes it this year, then the votes would decide in November 2016 whether to pass it.
Arizona already has a redistricting commission. Republicans tend to be unhappy with it, because they feel the existing commission is prejudiced in favor of Democrats. The commission draws districts for both U.S. House, and legislative seats. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
Voters should be able to choose their voting district, first come, first enrolled. When the allocated limit for number of voters is reached for a district, the voter must choose a second district with space available. Geographic-demographic gerrymandering is anachronistic. The technology is available to print individual paper ballots on demand for voters enrolled in any district at any polling location. Those ballots should be canvassed and reported at the precinct level before being transported to central non-transparent electronic tabulator.
Why bother with districts or elections, both of which are anachronistic?
Let each voter choose their own legislator. Each year there can be an open enrollment period in which a voter may switch legislators, or renew their preference. If they fail to enroll, they can sign up at any time. Persons who move into the state can choose a legislator when they register as resident citizens.
If they move, they can choose a new legislator. If the legislator dies, or becomes ineligible, his constituents can pick another legislator.
Each legislator would cast one vote for each voter they represent.