Gerrymandering in US States

[_aussieguy55]

Earlier this year a federal court ruled Alabama Republicans had improperly gerrymandered districts for the state legislature, packing black voters into a small number of districts to dilute their power elsewhere.

https://ballotpedia.org/Redistricting_in_Alabama

Why do blacks bother to vote? And the US calls itself a democracy

[_Themis]

It's a flawed democracy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index

[_MeDotOrg]

People debate how the districts should be drawn. But I think a committee of retired judges, Democrats, Republicans and Independents would be more fair than 'to the victor belongs the spoils'.

Gerrymandering distorts democracy because that is its purpose.

There is a National Democratic Redistricting Pac, but I wish it was a true multi-party pac. Most Republicans don't want to straighten a playing field that favors them.

[_Themis]

Why do blacks bother to vote?

Because their vote matters. In many areas where gerrymandering is going on it doesn't have as much weight as other voters, but it still has some. It's a sad state in that it shows how fragile democracy is when so many are willing to take away others right's to vote in order for their perceived side to win.

[_Dr. Shades]

And the US calls itself a democracy

Is the situation better in Australia?

[_MeDotOrg]

I do have to say aussieguy55, you do seem to have it out for America as being a backwater. Are you saying we should treat people as the Australian Colonists did during the Black War?

There are enough glass houses to go around.

[_EAllusion]

And the US calls itself a democracy

Is the situation better in Australia?

With respect to democratic institutions? Yes.

For instance, they rank higher than the US in the Democracy Index and constitute a full democracy whereas the US has fallen into a flawed democracy state:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index

But where it gets interesting is when you just look at specific states within the US. Because of various ways the Republican party has decided to game election outcomes, it's questionable to call some areas of the country true democracies. Citizens of North Carolina, for instance, don't live in a democracy. It's more of a pseudo-democracy akin to Cuba.

[_aussieguy55]

The districts are drawn up by an independent electoral commission. It is not always perfect but generally if a party gets 51% of the vote last time they have a two seat majority. Unlike the US and UK it is not first past the post. If for example both major parties do not get 5% they may get the second preference of another party. For example the greens usually get 10% of the vote and there second preference which is Labor goes to Labor. Likewise a small conservative parties votes would be preferences for the Liberal party. Voting is compulsory. Also there is public funding of election. Each party gets $2.76 for each vote caste for the party. So if you get 2 million you get 2 million times $2.76

[_SteelHead]

We should use one of new districting software routines that district equally without looking at race or party.

[_moksha]

Are you saying we should treat people as the Australian Colonists did during the Black War?

Or what about the way Vlad Tepes treated the opposition during his reign? Bet he would have gerrymandered too if there were any elections back then. #MAGAgerrymanding