OPINION:
A simple plan could eliminate the gerrymandering of congressional districts across the U.S. — forever. It’ fair, non-partisan and non-discriminatory. It has four rules:
1. If a state or a section of a state has an even number of congressional districts, cut the state or section in half by population. 2. If a state or a section of a state has an odd number of districts, find its geographic center and build a square district around it. Then cut the remainder (of the state or section) in half by population. 3. If an even-numbered state or section is longer in an East-West direction, make the cut with a line running from north to south, and vice-versa.4. Repeat the above as needed.
Here are some examples. Kansas has four congressional districts and is longer in an East-West direction. Draw a line from North to South such that half of the state’s population is West of the line, and half is East of it. Next, cut the western “half” of Kansas into two districts with equal populations; do the same with the eastern half.
Alabama has seven Congressional districts. Since seven is an odd number, find the geographic center of the state and build a square around it — one that holds a seventh of the population. That leaves six districts. Alabama is longer North-South, so cut the remainder of the state with a line running from West to East — forming two large sections, each with three districts. Since three is an odd number, find the geographic center of each section and build a square around it. Then cut each remaining two-district section in half.
California is the most populous state, with 52 congressional districts. Cut it in half with an East-West line, leaving 26 districts north of that line, and 26 south of it. Divide each vast section in half, leaving four 13-district sections. Now find the geographic centers of each of those four sections and build a square district around it. I’ll leave the rest to you.
Who could argue with the fairness of this approach, which was arrived at without regard to race, color, creed, wealth or party? To get the plan approved by Congress, the legislation might have to specify that it wouldn’t take effect for a certain number of years.
STEVE MARICIC
Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey
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