A grassroots group, Fair Districts Louisiana, is helping to host a conference at LSU in January on the problem of politically gerrymandered district lines for Congress, the Legislature and other bodies. We need ideas for a better process. In Louisiana, as in most other states, the Legislature determines the electoral districts for congressional, state House and state Senate seats. The maps have prompted lawsuits in several states, amid growing criticism that political parties are using legislative control to give themselves unfair advantages.
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case challenging the way Wisconsin Republicans drew districts that could lead to changes across the country.
Whether the court finds for or against the Wisconsin result, our state should join more progressive states who have tried to limit the politics of remapping districts.
The Public Affairs Research Council pushed reforms on this issue in a 2010 report before the last national Census.
Full Article: Our Views: Louisiana needs to find a better way to draw electoral districts | Our Views | theadvocate.com.