Who Draws A 'Fair' Map?

As states finish the process of redistricting congressional and legislative maps and litigation takes off in contentious states, the question of who redistricts is central to the argument about whether maps are fair. State legislatures draw most of the maps for congressional and legislative districts, but there are exceptions. Seven states include other elected officeholders as part of political commissions to redistrict; several others require independent commissions (staffed by non-politicians) to redistrict in place of the legislature. Redistricting reformers largely instigated the creation of these non-legislative bodies, believing that they would “bring fairness to redistricting.” But partisan fights about the fairness of these districts have already led to litigation. Reformers allege corruption of these bodies most strongly in Ohio and Arizona, with claims of outright rigging of the process. Read Full Article »