Comments on: Redistricting: Geography, Chance, and Algorithms http://rosereport.org/20071129/redistricting-geography-chance-and-algorithms/ The Rose Institute of State and Local Government Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:37:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ferris http://rosereport.org/20071129/redistricting-geography-chance-and-algorithms/comment-page-1/#comment-5768 Ferris Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:48:53 +0000 http://rosereport.org/?p=231#comment-5768 I don't like this "shortest split line" algorithm. It appears to go too far in taking the politics out of districting, because the lines are drawn in such a way that it makes politicians rule over multiple constituencies. Now, I can't think of a way of writing this that would fully avoid political maneuvering, but if the lines were set to snap to certain obvious geopolitical barriers, such as counties, major highways, mountain passes, or rivers to name a few, then you'd see a marked increase in district quality. It would be quite a project to say, divert a river, or build a new interstate, just to improve a certain parties electability. Granted, there's probably some unforseen political issue I'm not thinking of, but someone would have to write this program to really demonstrate that. Feel free to email a response or post at the forum listed above my post. I don’t like this “shortest split line” algorithm.

It appears to go too far in taking the politics out of districting, because the lines are drawn in such a way that it makes politicians rule over multiple constituencies.

Now, I can’t think of a way of writing this that would fully avoid political maneuvering, but if the lines were set to snap to certain obvious geopolitical barriers, such as counties, major highways, mountain passes, or rivers to name a few, then you’d see a marked increase in district quality.

It would be quite a project to say, divert a river, or build a new interstate, just to improve a certain parties electability. Granted, there’s probably some unforseen political issue I’m not thinking of, but someone would have to write this program to really demonstrate that.

Feel free to email a response or post at the forum listed above my post.

]]> By: Warren D. Smith http://rosereport.org/20071129/redistricting-geography-chance-and-algorithms/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Warren D. Smith Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:16:53 +0000 http://rosereport.org/?p=231#comment-39 You should take a look at the “shortest splitline algorithm” http://rangevoting.org/SplitLR.html and associated pages. This is the simplest automatic districting proposal. Concerning constitutionality, read these blog posts: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RangeVoting/message/6345 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RangeVoting/message/6346 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RangeVoting/message/6349 and they refer to the text of the voting rights act, available here: http://rangevoting.org/VRAtext.html I’d love it if you’d endorse and/or join rangevoting.org (click “endorse”, “join” etc on its front page). You should take a look at the “shortest splitline
algorithm”
http://rangevoting.org/SplitLR.html
and associated pages. This is the simplest
automatic districting proposal.

Concerning constitutionality, read these blog posts:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RangeVoting/message/6345
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RangeVoting/message/6346
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RangeVoting/message/6349

and they refer to the text of the voting rights act,
available here:

http://rangevoting.org/VRAtext.html

I’d love it if you’d endorse and/or join rangevoting.org
(click “endorse”, “join” etc on its front page).

]]> By: The Rose Report on algorithmic redistricting « All About Voting http://rosereport.org/20071129/redistricting-geography-chance-and-algorithms/comment-page-1/#comment-38 The Rose Report on algorithmic redistricting « All About Voting Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:26:00 +0000 http://rosereport.org/?p=231#comment-38 [...] 1, 2007 · No Comments The Rose Report discusses algorithmic approaches to redistricting such as the shortest-splitline [...] [...] 1, 2007 · No Comments The Rose Report discusses algorithmic approaches to redistricting such as the shortest-splitline [...]

]]> By: Matt Peterson http://rosereport.org/20071129/redistricting-geography-chance-and-algorithms/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Matt Peterson Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:07:55 +0000 http://rosereport.org/?p=231#comment-34 <p><p>All I mean in the first paragraph above is that districts based solely on geography (e.g., latitude) would inevitably be unconstitutional.</p><br /> <p>Algorithm's aren't necessarily unconstitutional. My point in the second part above is simply that relying strictly or solely on formulas is not going to be practically successful nor is it likely to be desirable. Such ideas might help reform in some way, but real live people will always be wrangling over districts somewhere in a democratic system of government. I doubt that one can take the politics out of what is an essential part of politics. </p><br /> <p>Hope that clears things up.</p><br /> <p>I will look at your posts when I get a chance.</p></p> <p>All I mean in the first paragraph above is that districts based solely on geography (e.g., latitude) would inevitably be unconstitutional.</p>
<p>Algorithm’s aren’t necessarily unconstitutional. My point in the second part above is simply that relying strictly or solely on formulas is not going to be practically successful nor is it likely to be desirable. Such ideas might help reform in some way, but real live people will always be wrangling over districts somewhere in a democratic system of government. I doubt that one can take the politics out of what is an essential part of politics. </p>
<p>Hope that clears things up.</p>
<p>I will look at your posts when I get a chance.</p>

]]> By: AllAboutVoting http://rosereport.org/20071129/redistricting-geography-chance-and-algorithms/comment-page-1/#comment-33 AllAboutVoting Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:20:38 +0000 http://rosereport.org/?p=231#comment-33 >...because they are ignorant of the fact that >such districts would inevitably be unconstitutional. Can you be specific here? I believe that the issue is that the voting rights act *requires* gerrymandering to achieve sufficient representation of minority groups. Are there other laws that you can specifically point out that prevents a simple algorithm that attempts to create districts with equal populations from being constitutional? I talk about a districting algorithm called the "shortest-splitline" algorithm here. http://allaboutvoting.com/2007/07/21/some-proposed-reforms-to-the-problems-of-gerrymandering/ http://allaboutvoting.com/category/shortest_splitline/ >…because they are ignorant of the fact that
>such districts would inevitably be unconstitutional.

Can you be specific here? I believe that the issue is that the voting rights act *requires* gerrymandering to achieve sufficient representation of minority groups.

Are there other laws that you can specifically point out that prevents a simple algorithm that attempts to create districts with equal populations from being constitutional?

I talk about a districting algorithm called the “shortest-splitline” algorithm here.

http://allaboutvoting.com/2007/07/21/some-proposed-reforms-to-the-problems-of-gerrymandering/
http://allaboutvoting.com/category/shortest_splitline/

]]>