Gerrymandering the vote

We're in a unique position here in Arkansas where reapportionment is neither a legislative obligation, nor has it been politicized here like it has in many of our neighboring states. David Broder's column in yesterday's Washington Post lays out the argument that voting can be suppressed by the creation of districts that heavily favor one candidate.

When your country ranks 139th in the world in voter participation, there's something wrong. Is it cynicism? Apathy? Broder suggests that when district lines are drawn in such a manner as to predetermine the winner based on a candidate's party affiliation, it makes voters think their vote doesn't matter. I agree with him. With today's technology, district lines should be able to be reapportioned electronically with little meddling. Here's a link to a cutting edge political study, which provides data in support of the contention that partisan influence in reapportionment suppresses voter turnout.

Here in Arkansas (and unlike other states), Article 8 of our state Constitution takes it out of our hands and creates the Board of Apportionment. The process of determining changes in district lines will take place here in 2011 after the next census, and we're sure to see geographically smaller state legislative districts here in northwest Arkansas due to the population boom here over the last several years -- I've even heard speculation that by 2020, the 3rd CD could be made up only of Washington and Benton counties. It's good to have a system like we have here in Arkansas that doesn't let partisan advantages play a role in drawing our district boundary lines.

Note: Article 8 has been amended/affected by Amendment 23 and Amendment 45.