I think that gerrymandering is the big problem. I’d like to see states divided by vertical lines, and then each vertical slice subdivided by horizontal lines as needed to create districts with equal populations. Every district a mandatory parallelogram. As populations shift, move the vertical or horizontal lines a mile or so to adjust the number of voters. It should be a math exercise rather than an exercise in customizing a district so that we can be sure to get a black rep here, here, and here.
I’d rather see districts of equal populations delimited so as to minimize the total length of all district boundaries within each state, completely independently of any factor other than the locations of legal residents. Then redraw the districts after each census.
“I think that gerrymandering is the big problem. I’d like to see states divided by vertical lines, and then each vertical slice subdivided by horizontal lines as needed to create districts with equal populations. Every district a mandatory parallelogram. As populations shift, move the vertical or horizontal lines a mile or so to adjust the number of voters. It should be a math exercise rather than an exercise in customizing a district so that we can be sure to get a black rep here, here, and here.”
“math exercise”
One could allocate to cities (and immediately adjacent counties) as many districts as may be fully contained therein, to be allocated on the basis of:
1. proportional representation
2. using the existing district boundaries at least to the (largest) city limits
3. each district to have roughly equal latitude and longitude width
All that is to keep the colored members of Congress in their seats (and to avoid race riots).
The other districts in the state could be allocated on the basis of:
1. proportional representation
2. each district to have roughly equal latitude and longitude width
District creation calculations would be made from each corner of the state. The corner that results in minimal total (latitude + longitude) outlying district width would get chosen.
Finally, jurisdictions to get shifted between two districts at a time (without changing the districts’ latitude and longitude ratio by more than 10% each (or out to a county boundary if allowed by state law)) to minimize the number of jurisdictions contained in more than one district.
NOTE: This may not be the best, but it was the best I could come up with in 30 minutes.
“It should be a math exercise rather than an exercise in customizing a district so that we can be sure to get a black rep here, here, and here.”
The race issue is a smokescreen. The only real goal is to get a democrat. I am a victim of this. I am now represented by a low IQ, corrupt, liberal black male democrat because a federal judge put me 100 yards inside the new district. True story.