Category Archives: redistricting

“Here’s How We Can End Gerrymandering Once and for All”

July 2, 2014, 7:34 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Nick Stephanopoulos in TNR: If insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, then litigants who challenge gerrymandering must be mad. Last month, a federal court threw out the Texas Democratic Party’s claim… Continue reading

65 Ways to Improve Our Democracy

June 24, 2014, 2:21 pmballot access, campaigns, citizen commissions, election administration, Fixing Election Administration, legislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarization, primaries, provisional ballots, recounts, redistricting, The Voting Warsbipartisan commission, early voting, election reform, national primary day, recountsHeather Gerken

Today the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on Political Reform rolled out its recommendations and report today on strengthening American democracy. Academics are usually on the outside looking in for such processes, but I was lucky enough to serve as one… Continue reading

“Governing in a Polarized America: A Bipartisan Blueprint to Strengthen our Democracy”

June 24, 2014, 9:51 amlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarization, redistrictingRick Hasen

Release: The Bipartisan Policy Center launched the Commission on Political Reform in 2013 to investigate the causes and consequences of America’s partisan political divide and to advocate for specific reforms that will improve the political process and that will… Continue reading

Three-Judge Court Unanimously Dismisses Partisan Gerrymandering Claim Against Texas 2013 Redistricting

June 19, 2014, 7:43 amredistrictingRick Hasen

You can find the order here.

Jessica A. Levinson Reviews ‘On Democracy’s Doorstep : The Inside Story of How the Supreme Court Brought ‘One Person, One Vote’ to the United States”

June 13, 2014, 11:21 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Review. I had not heard of this book by J. Douglas Smith but the blurbs make it sound fantastic.

“People move to places that fit their politics. And it’s helping Republicans.”

June 13, 2014, 8:39 amredistrictingRick Hasen

The Fix reports.

Florida’s “Game of Thrones”

June 4, 2014, 6:07 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Redistricting trial coming to end.

“Supreme Court to hear Ala. redistricting challenge”

June 2, 2014, 7:13 amredistricting, Supreme Court, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

AP: “The Supreme Court said Monday it will consider a challenge from Alabama Democrats who say a Republican-drawn legislative map intentionally packs black Democrats into a few voting districts, giving them too little influence in the Legislature.” This will… Continue reading

“Florida may be forced to redraw political districts before midterms”

May 31, 2014, 9:36 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Scientists: Florida’s congressional map is ‘partisan gerrymander'”

May 28, 2014, 4:59 pmpolitical parties, redistrictingRick Hasen

Some choice quotes from political scientists on the bias of the Florida maps.

“Take this quiz and see if you can pick the ‘gerrymandered’ redistricting plan”

May 27, 2014, 4:57 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

This is fun from The Monkey Cage. To mangle Justice O’Connor, “Put differently, we believe that reapportionment is one area in which appearances [shouldn’t] matter.”

“Should bipartisan/nonpartisan committees redraw districts? An example from the midwest”

May 20, 2014, 2:06 pmcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

Interesting post at Explaining Elections.

“Get your geek on: Florida’s redistricting trial could hinge on (gasp!) statistics”

May 17, 2014, 2:39 pmcitizen commissions, redistrictingRick Hasen

Orlando Sentinel report.

“Liberal donors eye new long-term investments in states and new voters to boost Democrats”

May 4, 2014, 9:06 pmcampaigns, political parties, political polarization, redistrictingRick Hasen

WaPo: A group of wealthy liberal donors who helped bankroll the Center for American Progress and other major advocacy groups on the left is developing a new big-money strategy that could boost state-level Democratic candidates and mobilize core party… Continue reading