Proposition 77

Of the 8 propositions on the November 8 ballot in California, none is probably more important than Proposition 77 -- the redistricting measure.

Required by the state's constitution to account for shifts and changes in population, the legislature redraws both congressional and state districts every 10 years using the latest federal decennial Census. The idea is simple, redraw districts accordingly -- preferably using geographical boundaries -- for fair and equal representation.

The Press-Enterprise

However, in the last redistricting process in 2001, districts were carved primarily based upon strict partisan demographics, thus overly favoring incumbents. In essence, the legislators chose the voters as opposed to the voters choosing the legislators. As proof, in over 300 elections since 2002, only 3 seats have changed -- including absolutely none of the 153 incumbents on state and federal ballots in the November 2004 election (the first major post-redistricting election). Which is why many politicians fear Prop 77:

One place where this over-the-top gerrymandering is quite evident is Inland Southern California, where odd-shaped districts extend for miles beyond local geographical boundaries -- essentially tiny fingers reaching out past disfavorable demographics to grab more favorable ones. In fact, the city of Riverside -- the 11th largest city in California -- was splintered into 2 illogical, inconceivable and essentially worthless state assembly districts (64th and 66th). Another overly gerrymandered district is the 63rd, where a Republican-dominated assembly district wraps almost entirely around a Democratic one (62nd).

A key stipulation of Prop 77 is the elimination of egregious splitting of cities and counties. Not only does this form of obvious political rigging mean existing Republican districts are likely to remain Republican (and vice versa), it also means that areas far withdrawn from one another -- and with little in common -- are often spliced together for no real purpose except to keep strict partisan politics intact. Which is why the majority of both Republican and Democrat legislators are against Prop 77.

But beyond the obvious, one overly fundamental question remains: Who in their right mind would even propose such inefficient and illogical boundaries? The answer is as clear as the rigged districts themselves: Only those whose primary interest is of their own -- and not of the people for whom they are entrusted to serve.

Related

• Yes On 77



Riverside Press-Enterprise

• Prop. 77 changes could be dramatic


• Yes on Prop. 77


• Prop. 77: The second act of the recall



San Bernardino Sun

• Prop 77 is a slam dunk



Los Angeles Times

• A new political landscape


• A proposition to end all propositions


• The case for unsafe election districts



California Secretery of State

• Summary of Proposition 77