ProgressiveModerate
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Posts: 13,982
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« on: November 13, 2021, 11:03:00 PM » |
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Every state that uses a commission runs it differently.
My ratings would be:
A:
None
B:
Michigan: I like how the commission is a commission of normal people who live in the state; not politicians, political appointees, or other sorts of "insiders". It started out a bit rocky with them producing some pretty crazy maps, but their final map options for both Congressional and State Legistlature seem good, and really do a good job at ensuring partisan fairness. I feel like the relationship between commissioners was less toxic than it was on most other commissions, and I think in large part it had to do with the fact they were regular citizens and not party operatives or anything.
Arizona: This commission has been pretty quiet compared to others, but I like the diversity in the different maps they've produced so far and the tie-breaker seems pretty fair.
California: Considering how big and diverse the state is, I feel the commissioners have done a pretty good job at making initial maps that represent the state well. Simillar to Michigan, I like how this commission uses a system of "ordinary people", and overall the commissioners seem to get along well. I'm curious to see their final product.
Montana: Only 2 districts, but it seems the the tiebreaker was truly and Independent voice that held both sides in check when they pushed their bounds. The final map was basically a compromise between what the 2 parties were pushing for.
C:
Colorado: It was ok until the end where the main Dem became toxic. I also didn't like their obsession with 5-3 map at all costs, and also how they choose to follow some really ugly municipal boundaries in their final map, which kinda ended up being a light-R gerry. I wish the Hispanic groups they interviewed were a bit more focused on representing Hispanic voters than making Dem gerries as I don't think that helped either. The final map despite it's flaws does do a reasonably good job at representing COIs though in a state with quite unique geography.
D:
None
F:
Virginia: The commission here just imploded and now it's up to the VASC to draw the maps which seems to be taking the task much more seriously. The lack of an Independent tie-breaking group on the commission and also that half the commissioners were politicians itself was just a bad design from the start that was doomed to fail.
Not enough to say:
Idaho - Haven't followed closely enough and pretty inconsequential
Washington - Other than the 4 maps made by Independent commissioners we haven't really seen anything else from them.
Would ya'll agree with these ratings or have anything else to add?
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