Redistricting in NC. ..

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Three new conservative districts may be created by way of creating a second Mel Watt, thus likely forcing Miller and Kissell into less cushy districts.

Rep. Patrick McHenry via NewsObserver:

"Republicans should pick up three seats under any fair and legal map," he continued. "That is huge. No other states in the nation would gain as many Republican seats. Clearly, Reps. (Larry) Kissell and (Brad) Miller are serving their final term."

Don't like these results? Put blame on the Voting Rights Act as it trumps the NC Constitution's anti gerrymandering measures.




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Breaking the Cycle of NC Gerrymandering ...

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Over at Swing State Project they are discussing NC redistricting which includes images of redrawn districts.

1 Heath Shuler: 11

4 blue districts: 1, 4, 7, 12

8 red districts: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13

There are other examples at the link above.

Although I like the higher number of republican districts, I have a problem with the fact that scant attention is being paid to county lines. The NC Constitution requires that districts be drawn along county lines in an effort to curb gerrymandering. I would prefer discussion that leans toward more honest representation. Gerrymandering disenfranchises citizens of both parties. Currently there are democrats in districts that favor republicans who's votes are essentially voided by gerrymandering, the same is true of republicans citizens in districts like Brad Miller's.

Admittedly, I am torn. Although retribution for the current unlawful districts with new districts that favor republicans would be sweet, I prefer honest districting along county lines.

At some point the democrats will be voted back into power and it would be nice if republicans had reinstated a belief among the citizenry in following the NC Constitution's requirement that districts be drawn along the county lines.

In short Republicans should break the cycle of gerrymandering and be stuck with the moniker of fair districting.




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Limit Gerrymandering -- Enforce NC Constitution Requirements in Drawing Congressional Districts...

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We have had some good wins, but we must move forward and for right now that means, get local. One local issue the citizens of NC have to contend with is a blatant infringement of the NC Constitution regarding districting.

The NC constitution requires congressional and senate districts to follow county lines in an effort to stem gerrymandering.

Article II Section 3 paragraph 3 States: No County shall be divided in the formation of a senate district.

Article II Section 5 Paragraph 3 States: No County shall be divided in the formation of a representative district.

But, Brad Miller ignored the NC Constitution not only when he helped draw the many districts across NC, but also his own gerrymandered district following the 2000 census. Brad Miller, it seems, has a penchant for disenfranchising voters of both parties for his benefit.

According to western.ncfreedom.us:

Division of Counties Must Be Minimized:
Article II of the State Constitution says that in drawing State House and Senate districts, no county shall be divided. In 1981, the US Department of Justice said that requirement was inconsistent with the Voting Rights Act, so the General Assembly disregarded it for 21 years. Then in 2002 the State Supreme Court in the case of Stephenson v. Bartlett said the “Whole County Provision”, found in the State Constitution must be honored to the extent it can be honored, consistent with the Voting Rights Act and other State and federal precepts. The Stephenson decision for the first time said the equal protection clause of the State Constitution contained a presumption for single-member legislative districts, and that presumption should be a limitation on the Whole County Provision. The US Justice Department approved the Stephenson opinion and withdrew its 1981 objection to the Whole County Provision. The Court in Stephenson prescribed a step-by-step method for harmonizing the Whole County Provision with the other laws.

• First, the General Assembly should draw the districts required by the Voting Rights Act.

• Second, it should take all the counties with just the right population to be single-member districts and make them one-county single-member districts.

• Third, it should take all the counties that have just the right populations for one or more districts and divide those counties into compact single-member districts.

• Fourth, for the remaining counties it should group them into clusters of counties and divide the clusters into compact single-member districts, crossing county lines within the cluster as little as possible.

It is time the citizens of NC hold our state's constitution to the feet of those who draw the congressional districts.

TeaParty, lets crush NC gerrymandering.



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