there ought to be some way to handle the gerrymandering. California is so bad you feel like your vote doesn’t count for anything. It is sooooo very bad.
TheManFromGhent
3 years ago
There is no such thing as a “Non-partisan” commission.
Annette Anderson
3 years ago
All voting districts should be made up of PRE-EXISTING State, County, City and / or Utility & School districts.
Rebecca
3 years ago
As we all know, any “non-partisan” can become corrupt. Influence and money has always been a driving force in our country’s everything! And not just our country, but around the world. From special interest groups to lawmakers to politics. At some point we should consider embracing our technology and let a truly non-partisan entity make recommendations for some of our decisions and then let the people vote on those recommendations. I have seen way too much, power of the pen, at the State level and I see a trend as State elected offices push through their own legislature without the vote of the people. Every bill, law, and otherwise sanction that affects the people of the land must be voted on by the people it affects. We need to stop allowing these elected officials from imposing their own will on the people without a vote. Oregon, Washington and California to be specific.
Charles Rezner, Ph.D.
3 years ago
The courts need to stay out of what is a pure legislative matter.
Thomas
3 years ago
In a small state every one gets to vote for one representative at large the top vote getters would serve
as that states representatives, in larger states with 10 or more representatives an individual would get 2 votes and top candidates would serve
Deland Pahl
3 years ago
They should be squares and rectangles, no more than 4 sides to the district.
Billy Meeks
3 years ago
Each state should have two electoral votes, the same as each has two senators (senators not being the electors). Every state in the union should have the same voting power. Electors should be bound to vote according to the popular vote. Vast population centers should not be allowed to control the elections.
David C
3 years ago
Look at the States which use so-called “non-partisan” commissions & then at the partisan outcomes. Computer algorithms are easily biased. While it’s an unavoidably political process – maximum transparency is key. In these days of social media it’s not hard to see what’s proposed then to rally support or opposition.
Donald Gallagher
3 years ago
there is no such thing as a non-partisan commission….most members of such a group are personally involved with a political party and strongly influenced by that personal choice of party.
Micflyonthewall
3 years ago
There is no such thing as a nonpartisan, independent anything, computer algorithms can be manipulated and vulnerable to misdeeds, and I don’t understand how the third option works.
Bruce
3 years ago
There are only 2 ways to improve the system. Everyone should be able to have a representative in Congress to be their voice. The distribution of representatives can be base on how many registered Democrats, Republicans and independents are in a state. If there is one representative for every 100,000 voters, for example, and there are 400,000 registered Democrats, then they would have 4 Democrat Reps, 500,000 registered Republicans would have 5, and 100,000 independents would have one. The representatives would be chose by the registered voters in each party. This eliminates any and all possibility of discrimination but it prevents anyone from crossing party lines. The only other way is to keep what we have with constant legal challenges that go to the supreme court.
JAMES R DANIELS
3 years ago
But if the devil is raping you, anything is better
Rob
3 years ago
Really s/b done with countries IMO. I suppose geographical quadrilaterals closest to all being squares would be alright also, but I like the counties best. I don’t like that large concentrations of cities can disenfranchise rural voters.
Craig
3 years ago
Frankly it is hard to trust any of the selections, all subject to fraud. As a country we have lost our soul; lies, fraud and deception is our current law/morals.
Ginnie
3 years ago
Proportional representation gave Russia to the Bolsheviks, and Weimar Germany to the Nazis. Note both are Socialist.
James T. Richards
3 years ago
Rarely is a nonpartisan commission nonpartisan. The best voice should be the state legislature subject to judicial approval if redistricting required by a judicial order.
Will
3 years ago
The socialist cheat party never stops trying to undermine America.
Elizabeth Walker Sefkow
3 years ago
Every state already has counties/parishes lines. Use those.
Jim
3 years ago
I’m not in favor of adding ANY MORE bureaucracy and expanding ANY governmental role or function. If regular Americans vote in their states and counties, then the will of the people SHOULD be explicit and those elected representatives should set boundaries of district to the advantage of the party in power. Plan and simple! We have got to get back to elections controlling what happens next in our cities, counties, states and in Washington. Not the kind of crap we have been watching from these traitors, trying to overturn what we voted.
Todd A Seymour
3 years ago
If you use algorithms, humans are still writing the algorithims.
DonB.
3 years ago
Non partisan and non prejudiced are analogous. How can humans be either. Limit the human element and insert computers.
LeeBoyer
3 years ago
IF a nonpartisan committee could be found . . .it may work.
John
3 years ago
The “Iowa system” (choice #1) works very well in Iowa. NOBODY but incumbents complain.
Michael J
3 years ago
Look at the states with one party government, then you’ll see why reform is needed.
burtb
3 years ago
We need to follow the constitution.
The constitution only provides for the number of representatives, which was changed regularly by clearly passed laws at the federal level,
and that each state is awarded their number of delegates based on population percentage.
Other than that, it is up to the states how those representatives should be apportioned.
I would argue that each state should have the citizens of that state lobby their state legislatures, (and vote out those state legislatures until they comply with the voter wishes) to keep congressional districts to coincident zip codes.
Jay
3 years ago
Despite all the precautions imagined to keep corruption out of our election process and representation in Congress, there are those that don’t miss a trick. The big problem lies with the electorate that are not vigilante. Government keeps us busy with regulation compliance and social media distracts many. So many people are just simply overburdened with the responsibilities of citizenship. I don’t know what the answer is. Apathy and misinformation can only be challenged with information and a responsible press. Plus our schools need to get back to basics, reading, writing and ‘rithmatic.
MacDaddyWyoming
3 years ago
Good Luck with that “non-partisan, independent commission” thing. I would like to see it, but alas I fear there is no longer any such thing as non-partisan. It will be corrupted like everything else nowadays.
Rick
3 years ago
Funny, when dimocrats controlled the House for decades they had no problem with gerrymandering – or the Electoral College! NOTHING is non-partisan in politics, and NOTHING is fair to dimocrats unless Republicans cave and they win – usually by just being louder!
TOMSJR
3 years ago
NO SUCH THING AS NON-PARTISAN or NON-BIAS. We are all that way, PARTISAN AND BIAS, even when we don’t mean to be.
KEEP THE SYSTEM THE WAY IT IS. The fact is, AMERICA IS A REPUBLIC and if we go the way of a DEMOCRACY IN EVERYTHING WE DO, we will lose every freedom we hold dear. YOU CANNOT COUNT ON POLITICIANS FOR ANYTHING, even the so-called good ones and THIS IS EXACTLY WHY AMERICANS VOTED FOR A NON-POLITICIAN IN DONALD J. TRUMP. At least, HE IS CLEANING UP THE RINO/LIBERAL ENTRENCHED Government of corruptness.
IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT AND IT AIN’T BROKE just because some complain about it!
Betty Nunley
3 years ago
I live in Virginia. Because of 3 northern districts, the rest of the state feels as if our voices are not being heard. It is very frustrating! Look at the voting history of past elections in our state. They should be annexed into DC!
Valerie
3 years ago
Limited poll – I vote none of the above. Will click not sure just to counter.
sylvia dugai
3 years ago
I voted for the 4th and best answer, but I think the wording of it is poor–“The devil you know is better than the one you don’t know”! I think some people who believe this to be the best answer probably did not vote for it (as I almost didn’t) because of this wording.
Barbara Cole
3 years ago
Gerrymandering is certainly a problem and Eric Holder’s group is trying hard to create Dem districts. Non-partisan commission is non-existent, computers programmed by the left are not viable, rank voting without districts would perhaps be a solution, and just county lines are another option.
Debby Jones
3 years ago
We need more conservative representation. Gerrymandering should be illegal, and rural areas do deserve more representation than they seem to have. I like the state senate idea for equal rep of all counties in a state. Every living situation should be represented. Ironically I prefer also for property owners, responsible people, to be somehow represented in a heavier way.
Hal C
3 years ago
How do you find a nonpartisan committee? Computers are programmed by humans. I favor the state Supreme Court since the current system is questionable at best.
MOCountry
3 years ago
The problem with the first choice is, there is no such thing as non-partisan these days! Look around you……. News?? Nope………..Laws?? Nope…….. Labeling people?? Nope…….etc., etc.
Michael Cannon
3 years ago
In Michigan we already have counties. County lines should be used.
Russ
3 years ago
“Independent Commissions” are part of the problem. No oversight over the very thing who’s oversight we demand is not only “more of the same” but even worse.
The idea that computers are worse or “just as corrupt” Since humans provide the programming don’t have first hand knowledge of how algorithms are set up or run once initiated.
Everything mankind touches has the ability to fail or become corrupted by the taint for greed and power- so the idea that there’s a foolproof resolution means we find even more powerful fools to break things.
Danny Willard
3 years ago
Non partisan does not exist. Algorithms are put in computer by people, the programmers can program it to give their personal desired results. Not sure what the third one even means. Fourth has been used a long time and is about as fair as will ever happen. If you are not sure then likely you do not have a clue as to how it works.
A federal judge mandated the current system. Things could be a lot worse.
James Slover
3 years ago
The only reason I picked computer algorithms over people is that the results can be calculated quickly then tested for fairness. Humans take a lot longer to draw up voting boundaries and eliminating electoral districts altogether in states ensures a small group
or region can control the masses because they have the ranked votes sort of like eliminating the Electoral College.
Jetty
3 years ago
I don’t know which would work best, but California is so gerrymandered your vote just doesn’t count if you’re a republican… totally rigged. I just want it fair.
Dorothy
3 years ago
Computer algorithms are merely GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) crafted by crafty humans, so that won’t work. There’s really no such thing as a “non-partisan independent commission” (just because you name it doesn’t mean it’s a real thing). The “devil you know” isn’t sound rationale for continuing to do the wrong thing getting nasty results. I’m not quite sure who would determine what is “proportional representation determined by ranked choice voting”–it uses a great many words which when combined don’t really say anything interesting or intelligent and would at best be an ambiguous arrangement permitting more mischief. —-Gerrymandering is a CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE filled with skullduggery and dirty dealing, an arena for scoundrels to swindle the poor voters, cheat them out of their franchise after they have labored honestly and paid taxes to keep this country running. Something MUST be done about gerrymandering lest it go on a day longer. It is a stain on justice. Perhaps a grid of equal squares laid across the state, with equal weight given to each square without regard to population or party. No district should be allowed to reach a tendril into or surround another district. No more political artwork and cunning designs! Make all districts SQUARES of equal size. . .maybe they can join up to share a Representative. Present plans and let the voters decide. ———–Dorothy 22 February 2020
Robert J Stitt Sr
3 years ago
I certainly would not ever let some one with a computer do it. Probably go back to the most recent elections, figure out the percentage of each vote the parties got and then allow votes to be chosen that way. Just having the party in power choose does not seem quite right.
Joanne
3 years ago
The founding fathers has the right idea with setting up the electoral collage. Each state has a voice in the republic and there is wisdom in this over and above the popular vote even today.
The whiney baby Democrats want to change it to suit themselves, and forget that the SAME electoral college system voted in Obama twice. They seemed to like it THEN! They need to put their big boy and big girl pants on and realize Trump won fair and square in 2016 and will do the same in 2020!
And I agree that NO commission to try and change the electoral college system would do anything other that partisan politics to get their own way in the end!
Gitty
3 years ago
My urban NYC neighborhood was gerrymandered in way that only one demographic has a say in local and state level elections. Would love to see it return to the previous borders. Parenthetically, what really matters in any election is voter and election integrity.
Brian
3 years ago
I read a lot of the comments from informed, intelligent people. You could probably do well with average people who don’t understand all the politics but can look at a map and figure out common sense boundries using geographic, township, counties, etc. as division lines with no knowledge of current political boundries.
Pat R
3 years ago
Well the now Democrat-control government of Virginia is using another way to do away with electoral college altogether by saying the electors will be obligated to vote for whoever wins the popular vote. That’s their current way of working around it which results in large city populations will control it all, and they are always Democrat voters because of free handouts from gov’t.
BERNARD W. BREDBENNER JR 570-745-3835
3 years ago
I have developed a better way to determine the winner of federal & state elections. It is more fair to each of our DYSFUNCTIONAL parties. Also it will eliminate VOTER FRAUD. NO, I am not some crackpot. A short phone call could pay big dividends. I am an AMAC member. AARP is too ANTI-AMERICA.
BERNARD W. BREDBENNER JR 570-745-3835
3 years ago
FYI !! I have developed a new way to determine the winner of federal & state elections. Also it will eliminate VOTER FRAUD. Works well with either of our DYSFUNCTIONAL parties. You must call me to find out the way it works. No call means you do not care & you think of me as some crackpot. A simple phone call could pay big dividends. Email me with your phone # & i will call you.
there ought to be some way to handle the gerrymandering. California is so bad you feel like your vote doesn’t count for anything. It is sooooo very bad.
There is no such thing as a “Non-partisan” commission.
All voting districts should be made up of PRE-EXISTING State, County, City and / or Utility & School districts.
As we all know, any “non-partisan” can become corrupt. Influence and money has always been a driving force in our country’s everything! And not just our country, but around the world. From special interest groups to lawmakers to politics. At some point we should consider embracing our technology and let a truly non-partisan entity make recommendations for some of our decisions and then let the people vote on those recommendations. I have seen way too much, power of the pen, at the State level and I see a trend as State elected offices push through their own legislature without the vote of the people. Every bill, law, and otherwise sanction that affects the people of the land must be voted on by the people it affects. We need to stop allowing these elected officials from imposing their own will on the people without a vote. Oregon, Washington and California to be specific.
The courts need to stay out of what is a pure legislative matter.
In a small state every one gets to vote for one representative at large the top vote getters would serve
as that states representatives, in larger states with 10 or more representatives an individual would get 2 votes and top candidates would serve
They should be squares and rectangles, no more than 4 sides to the district.
Each state should have two electoral votes, the same as each has two senators (senators not being the electors). Every state in the union should have the same voting power. Electors should be bound to vote according to the popular vote. Vast population centers should not be allowed to control the elections.
Look at the States which use so-called “non-partisan” commissions & then at the partisan outcomes. Computer algorithms are easily biased. While it’s an unavoidably political process – maximum transparency is key. In these days of social media it’s not hard to see what’s proposed then to rally support or opposition.
there is no such thing as a non-partisan commission….most members of such a group are personally involved with a political party and strongly influenced by that personal choice of party.
There is no such thing as a nonpartisan, independent anything, computer algorithms can be manipulated and vulnerable to misdeeds, and I don’t understand how the third option works.
There are only 2 ways to improve the system. Everyone should be able to have a representative in Congress to be their voice. The distribution of representatives can be base on how many registered Democrats, Republicans and independents are in a state. If there is one representative for every 100,000 voters, for example, and there are 400,000 registered Democrats, then they would have 4 Democrat Reps, 500,000 registered Republicans would have 5, and 100,000 independents would have one. The representatives would be chose by the registered voters in each party. This eliminates any and all possibility of discrimination but it prevents anyone from crossing party lines. The only other way is to keep what we have with constant legal challenges that go to the supreme court.
But if the devil is raping you, anything is better
Really s/b done with countries IMO. I suppose geographical quadrilaterals closest to all being squares would be alright also, but I like the counties best. I don’t like that large concentrations of cities can disenfranchise rural voters.
Frankly it is hard to trust any of the selections, all subject to fraud. As a country we have lost our soul; lies, fraud and deception is our current law/morals.
Proportional representation gave Russia to the Bolsheviks, and Weimar Germany to the Nazis. Note both are Socialist.
Rarely is a nonpartisan commission nonpartisan. The best voice should be the state legislature subject to judicial approval if redistricting required by a judicial order.
The socialist cheat party never stops trying to undermine America.
Every state already has counties/parishes lines. Use those.
I’m not in favor of adding ANY MORE bureaucracy and expanding ANY governmental role or function. If regular Americans vote in their states and counties, then the will of the people SHOULD be explicit and those elected representatives should set boundaries of district to the advantage of the party in power. Plan and simple! We have got to get back to elections controlling what happens next in our cities, counties, states and in Washington. Not the kind of crap we have been watching from these traitors, trying to overturn what we voted.
If you use algorithms, humans are still writing the algorithims.
Non partisan and non prejudiced are analogous. How can humans be either. Limit the human element and insert computers.
IF a nonpartisan committee could be found . . .it may work.
The “Iowa system” (choice #1) works very well in Iowa. NOBODY but incumbents complain.
Look at the states with one party government, then you’ll see why reform is needed.
We need to follow the constitution.
The constitution only provides for the number of representatives, which was changed regularly by clearly passed laws at the federal level,
and that each state is awarded their number of delegates based on population percentage.
Other than that, it is up to the states how those representatives should be apportioned.
I would argue that each state should have the citizens of that state lobby their state legislatures, (and vote out those state legislatures until they comply with the voter wishes) to keep congressional districts to coincident zip codes.
Despite all the precautions imagined to keep corruption out of our election process and representation in Congress, there are those that don’t miss a trick. The big problem lies with the electorate that are not vigilante. Government keeps us busy with regulation compliance and social media distracts many. So many people are just simply overburdened with the responsibilities of citizenship. I don’t know what the answer is. Apathy and misinformation can only be challenged with information and a responsible press. Plus our schools need to get back to basics, reading, writing and ‘rithmatic.
Good Luck with that “non-partisan, independent commission” thing. I would like to see it, but alas I fear there is no longer any such thing as non-partisan. It will be corrupted like everything else nowadays.
Funny, when dimocrats controlled the House for decades they had no problem with gerrymandering – or the Electoral College! NOTHING is non-partisan in politics, and NOTHING is fair to dimocrats unless Republicans cave and they win – usually by just being louder!
NO SUCH THING AS NON-PARTISAN or NON-BIAS. We are all that way, PARTISAN AND BIAS, even when we don’t mean to be.
KEEP THE SYSTEM THE WAY IT IS. The fact is, AMERICA IS A REPUBLIC and if we go the way of a DEMOCRACY IN EVERYTHING WE DO, we will lose every freedom we hold dear. YOU CANNOT COUNT ON POLITICIANS FOR ANYTHING, even the so-called good ones and THIS IS EXACTLY WHY AMERICANS VOTED FOR A NON-POLITICIAN IN DONALD J. TRUMP. At least, HE IS CLEANING UP THE RINO/LIBERAL ENTRENCHED Government of corruptness.
IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT AND IT AIN’T BROKE just because some complain about it!
I live in Virginia. Because of 3 northern districts, the rest of the state feels as if our voices are not being heard. It is very frustrating! Look at the voting history of past elections in our state. They should be annexed into DC!
Limited poll – I vote none of the above. Will click not sure just to counter.
I voted for the 4th and best answer, but I think the wording of it is poor–“The devil you know is better than the one you don’t know”! I think some people who believe this to be the best answer probably did not vote for it (as I almost didn’t) because of this wording.
Gerrymandering is certainly a problem and Eric Holder’s group is trying hard to create Dem districts. Non-partisan commission is non-existent, computers programmed by the left are not viable, rank voting without districts would perhaps be a solution, and just county lines are another option.
We need more conservative representation. Gerrymandering should be illegal, and rural areas do deserve more representation than they seem to have. I like the state senate idea for equal rep of all counties in a state. Every living situation should be represented. Ironically I prefer also for property owners, responsible people, to be somehow represented in a heavier way.
How do you find a nonpartisan committee? Computers are programmed by humans. I favor the state Supreme Court since the current system is questionable at best.
The problem with the first choice is, there is no such thing as non-partisan these days! Look around you……. News?? Nope………..Laws?? Nope…….. Labeling people?? Nope…….etc., etc.
In Michigan we already have counties. County lines should be used.
“Independent Commissions” are part of the problem. No oversight over the very thing who’s oversight we demand is not only “more of the same” but even worse.
The idea that computers are worse or “just as corrupt” Since humans provide the programming don’t have first hand knowledge of how algorithms are set up or run once initiated.
Everything mankind touches has the ability to fail or become corrupted by the taint for greed and power- so the idea that there’s a foolproof resolution means we find even more powerful fools to break things.
Non partisan does not exist. Algorithms are put in computer by people, the programmers can program it to give their personal desired results. Not sure what the third one even means. Fourth has been used a long time and is about as fair as will ever happen. If you are not sure then likely you do not have a clue as to how it works.
A federal judge mandated the current system. Things could be a lot worse.
The only reason I picked computer algorithms over people is that the results can be calculated quickly then tested for fairness. Humans take a lot longer to draw up voting boundaries and eliminating electoral districts altogether in states ensures a small group
or region can control the masses because they have the ranked votes sort of like eliminating the Electoral College.
I don’t know which would work best, but California is so gerrymandered your vote just doesn’t count if you’re a republican… totally rigged. I just want it fair.
Computer algorithms are merely GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) crafted by crafty humans, so that won’t work. There’s really no such thing as a “non-partisan independent commission” (just because you name it doesn’t mean it’s a real thing). The “devil you know” isn’t sound rationale for continuing to do the wrong thing getting nasty results. I’m not quite sure who would determine what is “proportional representation determined by ranked choice voting”–it uses a great many words which when combined don’t really say anything interesting or intelligent and would at best be an ambiguous arrangement permitting more mischief. —-Gerrymandering is a CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE filled with skullduggery and dirty dealing, an arena for scoundrels to swindle the poor voters, cheat them out of their franchise after they have labored honestly and paid taxes to keep this country running. Something MUST be done about gerrymandering lest it go on a day longer. It is a stain on justice. Perhaps a grid of equal squares laid across the state, with equal weight given to each square without regard to population or party. No district should be allowed to reach a tendril into or surround another district. No more political artwork and cunning designs! Make all districts SQUARES of equal size. . .maybe they can join up to share a Representative. Present plans and let the voters decide. ———–Dorothy 22 February 2020
I certainly would not ever let some one with a computer do it. Probably go back to the most recent elections, figure out the percentage of each vote the parties got and then allow votes to be chosen that way. Just having the party in power choose does not seem quite right.
The founding fathers has the right idea with setting up the electoral collage. Each state has a voice in the republic and there is wisdom in this over and above the popular vote even today.
The whiney baby Democrats want to change it to suit themselves, and forget that the SAME electoral college system voted in Obama twice. They seemed to like it THEN! They need to put their big boy and big girl pants on and realize Trump won fair and square in 2016 and will do the same in 2020!
And I agree that NO commission to try and change the electoral college system would do anything other that partisan politics to get their own way in the end!
My urban NYC neighborhood was gerrymandered in way that only one demographic has a say in local and state level elections. Would love to see it return to the previous borders. Parenthetically, what really matters in any election is voter and election integrity.
I read a lot of the comments from informed, intelligent people. You could probably do well with average people who don’t understand all the politics but can look at a map and figure out common sense boundries using geographic, township, counties, etc. as division lines with no knowledge of current political boundries.
Well the now Democrat-control government of Virginia is using another way to do away with electoral college altogether by saying the electors will be obligated to vote for whoever wins the popular vote. That’s their current way of working around it which results in large city populations will control it all, and they are always Democrat voters because of free handouts from gov’t.
I have developed a better way to determine the winner of federal & state elections. It is more fair to each of our DYSFUNCTIONAL parties. Also it will eliminate VOTER FRAUD. NO, I am not some crackpot. A short phone call could pay big dividends. I am an AMAC member. AARP is too ANTI-AMERICA.
FYI !! I have developed a new way to determine the winner of federal & state elections. Also it will eliminate VOTER FRAUD. Works well with either of our DYSFUNCTIONAL parties. You must call me to find out the way it works. No call means you do not care & you think of me as some crackpot. A simple phone call could pay big dividends. Email me with your phone # & i will call you.