EP 896 Gerrymandering Is on Full Display and Ahead of Schedule in Texas

While both parties have long histories with gerrymandering Congressional districts for partisan advantage, it’s fair to say Republicans have taken it to a new low by interrupting the every ten -year process, based on the census, and doing it at halftime of this cycle.  In the process, they are encouraging Democrats to do the same.  The problem is that many states controlled by Democrats in the Governor’s office and the state legislature, have assigned this responsibility of redistricting to independent commissions or more elaborate bipartisan processes.  The concept of carving up districts for clearly partisan advantage has made our politics more radical and divisive.  To explain what gerrymandering is, the Supreme Court’s acquiescence, the stakes involved and the impact on governing is David Daley, of FairVote (fairvote.org), and author of three books related to our electoral process. He is considered by many to be our leading writer on this subject.  His latest book is called “Antidemocratic: Inside the Far Right’s 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download