Wisconsin gerrymandering so bad even a Gannett paper is calling for changes.

[Scuba]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/adopt-iowa-model-for-maps/article_04bbb354-fa6d-5f45-812b-e1c40ea822f8.html

Adopt Iowa model for maps

Iowa does redistricting right: A nonpartisan agency draws the maps after each major census to adjust for population changes. The process is open and inexpensive, and it produces more competition for seats: Half of Iowa’s congressional races last fall were decided by single-digit margins.

Now look at Wisconsin’s congressional map. The lines are drawn all over the place. Western Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District sprouts a narrow branch into central Wisconsin, and Rock County is oddly split in half.

The politicians draw the lines in Wisconsin, allowing them to pick which communities they want to represent, based on voting patterns. As a result, many incumbents from both major political parties wind up with safer seats. All of Wisconsin’s eight congressional races last fall were decided by double-digit margins.

The Republicans who run the Wisconsin statehouse also drew legislative districts to their favor, largely in secret. The rigged maps helped the GOP hold its lock on power last fall, despite big statewide wins by Democrats.

Iowa and Wisconsin Congression district maps at the link.

[handmade34]

1. too bad Iowa is not the norm

I was researching Florida's districts and just floored by the constant changes and the gymnastics gone through to develop what they have... very, very bad

"a mapmaker has more impact on the elections than the voters"

play the game...

http://www.redistrictinggame.org

"For years, FairVote has highlighted how our nation's reliance upon winner-take-all elections and single member districts for Congressional elections without national standards has left our voting process open to the abuses of unfair partisan gerrymandering. Insiders for decades have known how powerful redistricting can be for elected officials to protect friends and undermine opponents. It's a blood sport that both parties have exploited, thereby minimizing the role of voters in the political process. By gerrymandering the districts, legislators and their political cronies have used redistricting to choose their voters, before voters have had the opportunity to choose them."

http://www.fairvote.org/redistricting#.UePf2hbTrlI

[Laelth]

2. Excellent links. Thanks. n/t

-Laelth

[hfojvt]

3. if Iowa is to be the example

then what is with that little strip across the top of it.

Perhaps the independent panel could explain why Chickasaw County is in the 4th district with about 12,000 people in it and Winnebago county is in the 1st district.

And also, the nonsense that "half of Iowa's congressional races were decided by single digit margins, makes them sound a lot closer than they were. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Iowa,_2012

1st - incumbent wins - 56.9% to 41.6%
2nd - incumbent wins - 55.6% to 42.5%
3rd - incumbent vs. incumbent, Republican wins over Conservadem - 52.2% to 43.6%
4th - incumbent wins - 52.9% to 44.9%

None of those races were very close and the incumbents were 4-0.

But the Wisconsin races were huge blowouts. Some of that though, is probably inevitable as Wisconsin has two large, liberal urban areas, Milwaukee and Madison where liberals are gonna dominate and then it has more rural areas, like the 7th district.

Ironically though, the 7th district was one of the closer races, with the incumbent winning 56% to 43.8%.

Not saying that Wisconsin isn't a mess, but Iowa does not look right either.

[Scuba]

4. Thanks for adding this!!!

[MadrasT]

5. Thanks... gerrymandering is one of my biggest frustrations.

Presenting the map for my "new" home district, PA-7...





This kind of bullshit should not be allowed. Anywhere.