Reading Between the Lines Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting November 18, 2010 Page 1 of 6 Reading Between the Lines Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting their Reform in Iowa, Arizona and California and Ideas for Change in New Jersey _______________ _______________ Prepared for the Eagleton Institute of Politics by Benjamin Brickner May 2010 Reading Between the Lines Purposes of the Study 1. DESCRIBE the redistricting process 2. COMPARE three states that have attempted redistricting reform 3. EXAMINE New Jersey’s redistricting process 4. PROPOSE changes to address areas of concern in New Jersey Reading Between the Lines Summary of Findings 1. Redistricting by public and/or party officials is fraught with conflicts of interest 2. Redistricting by other means has been successful in Iowa and Arizona 3. New Jersey’s redistricting process is insular and opaque 4. Partisan advantage is a primary motive of New Jersey’s redistricting commissions 5. These areas of concern can be addressed with specific changes to New Jersey’s redistricting process that have been implemented successfully in other states DESCRIBE the redistricting process WHAT — the adjustment of electoral district boundaries • Boundaries must be shifted as underlying populations change • Applies to congressional, state legislative, local and most special purpose districts WHEN — typically after each federal census • U.S. Constitution: the “Enumeration shall be made [every] ten Years.” • Notable exceptions: Texas in 2003; other states after judicial action WHO — in most states, the state legislature and governor HOW — in most states, via the normal legislative process • Congressional districts: 44 of 50 states • State legislative districts: 37 of 50 states
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Reading Between the Lines Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting
November 18, 2010 Page 1 of 6
Reading Between the Lines Congress ional and State Legis lat ive Redistr ict ing
their Refor m in Iowa, Arizona and Cal i fornia and Ideas for Change in New Jersey
_______________ _______________
Prepared for the Eagleton Institute of Politics
by Benjamin Brickner
May 2010
Reading Between the Lines
Purposes of the Study
1. DESCRIBE the redistricting process
2. COMPARE three states that have attempted redistricting reform
3. EXAMINE New Jersey’s redistricting process
4. PROPOSE changes to address areas of concern in New Jersey
Reading Between the Lines
Summar y of Findings
1. Redistricting by public and/or party officials is fraught with conflicts of interest
2. Redistricting by other means has been successful in Iowa and Arizona
3. New Jersey’s redistricting process is insular and opaque
4. Partisan advantage is a primary motive of New Jersey’s redistricting commissions
5. These areas of concern can be addressed with specific changes to New Jersey’s redistricting process that have been implemented successfully in other states
DESCRIBE the redistricting process
WHAT — the adjustment of electoral district boundaries • Boundaries must be shifted as underlying populations change • Applies to congressional, state legislative, local and most special purpose districts
WHEN — typically after each federal census • U.S. Constitution: the “Enumeration shall be made [every] ten Years.” • Notable exceptions: Texas in 2003; other states after judicial action
WHO — in most states, the state legislature and governor
HOW — in most states, via the normal legislative process • Congressional districts: 44 of 50 states • State legislative districts: 37 of 50 states
Reading Between the Lines Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting
November 18, 2010 Page 2 of 6
DESCRIBE the redistricting process
DISTRICTING CRITERIA
• POPULATION EQUALITY • Congressional districts: “as nearly as is practicable” • State legislative districts: “substantially equal”
• VOTING RIGHTS ACT — no voting qualifications or practices resulting in “denial or abridgement” of the right to vote on account of race, color or language minority
• “TRADITIONAL” DISTRICTING PRINCIPLES • Compactness • Contiguity • Preserving political subdivisions, cores of prior districts, and communities of interest
DESCRIBE the redistricting process
COMPACTNESS
Whether a district is geographically efficient
New Jersey 11th Congressional District
Illinois 4th Congressional District
DESCRIBE the redistricting process
CONTIGUITY
Whether a district is in one or more pieces
Maine 2nd Congressional District
Kentucky 1st Congressional District
DESCRIBE the redistricting process
CONTIGUITY
Whether a district is in one or more pieces
New Jersey 13th Congressional District
Reading Between the Lines Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting
November 18, 2010 Page 3 of 6
DESCRIBE the redistricting process
GERRYMANDERING
Manipulation of district boundaries to enhance the electoral prospects of a particular political interest
GERRYMANDERING
“Packing” “Cracking”
DESCRIBE the redistricting process
GERRYMANDERING
Neutral Districting
DESCRIBE the redistricting process
GERRYMANDERING
“Packing” “Cracking”
COMPARE three states that have attempted redistricting reform
IOWA — • Reform by legislative action (1980) • Non-partisan agency draws maps, subject to approval by legislature
ARIZONA — • Reform by ballot initiative (2000) • Independent, bipartisan commission (2D, 2R, 2I) draws and adopts maps
CALIFORNIA — • Reform by ballot initiatives (2008 and 2010) • Independent, bipartisan commission (5D, 5R, 4I) draws and adopts maps
Reading Between the Lines Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting
November 18, 2010 Page 4 of 6
COMPARE three states that have attempted redistricting reform
IOWA — Reform by Legislative Action (1980) • BEFORE: in 1970s, court struck down legislature’s plan and imposed its own • AFTER: in 1980s, 1990s and 2000s plans adopted without incident
COMPARE three states that have attempted redistricting reform
ARIZONA — Reform by Ballot Initiative (2000) • BEFORE: in 1990s, legislative deadlock, multiple court cases and court-imposed congressional map • AFTER: in 2000s, congressional plan adopted without incident; legislative plan challenged, resulting
in significant victory for redistricting commission
COMPARE three states that have attempted redistricting reform
CALIFORNIA — Reform by Ballot Initiatives (2008 and 2010)
• BEFORE: 1970s — gubernatorial veto and court-imposed districting plans 1980s — popular referendum overturned districting plans 1990s — legislative deadlock and court-imposed districting plans 2000s — plans adopted without incident
• AFTER: to be determined
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COMPARE three states that have attempted redistricting reform
RECURRING SUBJECTS OF REFORM
Process — • Who draws the lines?
• Who chooses who draws the lines?
• What data must, may, or may not be considered?
• What public process is required?
Substance — • What districting principles must, may, or may not be accommodated?
• What outcomes must be reached?
Reading Between the Lines Congressional and State Legislative Redistricting
November 18, 2010 Page 5 of 6
EXAMINE New Jersey’s redistricting process
DUAL COMMISSIONS
State Legislative Congressional “Appor t i onment Commiss i on” “Redi s t r i c t ing Commiss ion”
• Established 1966 • 10 members (5D, 5R)
• Plus 1I in event of deadlock • Limited districting criteria required
• Compactness • Contiguity • Respecting political subdivisions
• No public process required
• Established 1991 • 13 members (6D, 6R, 1I)
• No districting criteria required
• Limited public process required • Four public hearings