In a healthy Democratic system, it is the voters who choose their politicians. But in North Carolina, the self-serving process of gerrymandering seriously dilutes the value of citizens’ votes and should be overhauled immediately.
Despite the relative competitiveness of its national elections, races for North Carolina’s state legislature resemble those of a plutocratic state. Districts are drawn by legislators themselves, who are essentially able to choose their voters.
Historically, gerrymandering has been abused by Democrats in North Carolina. Now, Republicans have drawn districts in such a way that even when they receive 55 percent of the statewide vote, the party retains more than 75 percent of the seats, as it did in the 2014 election.
The Carolina Journal noted early last year that 86 of 120 house candidates would run unopposed. Should a democracy have the opportunity to elect only 28 percent of its state representatives?
Fortunately, legislation has been introduced to remodel how North Carolina redistricts: one emulating Iowa’s nonpartisan, staff-drawn system, and another which would appoint an independent commission.
Senate Republican leadership is hesitant to introduce either because, they say, no non-legislative body could be trusted to be non-partisan.
But in the words of N.C. Sen. Jeff Jackson, anything is better than what we have now.
