POLS 125 Chapter Notes - Chapter NA: Behind Closed Doors: Campaign Finance Reform In The United States
18 Mar 2020
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Document Summary
2001 redistricting occurred behind closed doors, resulting in a great tragedy that rendered most voter"s preferences meaningless: completely legal, republicans, democrats, incumbents and consultants were all participants. Following every decennial census, the legislative district lines for every city council district, very state legislative district and every us house district are redrawn to apportion even populations. Voters were reduced to spectator status, packed into districts that guarantee the reelection of incumbents and their party. Behind closed doors, technocrats use computer programs to remap the terrain of single-seat districts: make it virtually impossible for anyone but the favored incumbent or party to win. Redistricting single seat districts is a direct threat to democratic values of electoral competition, representation, governance and choice for voters. Vast majority of house races are noncompetitive as a result of redistricting single-seat districts: state legislative elections are generally even worse, with many races going uncontested by one party.
