June 19, 2013

Politics

Nonpartisan redistricting not nonpartisan

BY: MICHAEL BARONE DECEMBER 22, 2011 | MODIFIED: DECEMBER 22, 2011 AT 12:34 PM
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The creation of nonpartisan redistricting commissions will take the politics out of redistricting, right?

Not really.

The creation of nonpartisan redistricting commissions instead tilts the redistricting process to the party that most skillfully and stealthily games the redistricting process. To see a fine example of how this works, read this excellent piece of reporting from ProPublica on the redistricting process in California. Ten years ago Democrats controlled the process publicly. This time Democrats controlled the process by behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Is this a victory for nonpartisanship and transparency? Doesn’t seem like it.  

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