How does "massive amounts of student population" affect election results? That those three counties universities contain massive amounts of students may be a fact, but how many students are full time residents of said counties? How many students meet residency requirements, or even bother to register, when they may be registered and live in another county or out of state? It appears the Republicans expect us to believe that every student at, say, the University of Iowa votes Democratic. My response is, prove it. The real reason why voters in the three counties lean Democratic may be by living in a progressive, open-minded community they are more inclined to vote for Democrats, and oppose a party that engages in voter suppression.
Another interesting and thought provoking article; thank you Ed.
Given the backdrop of a larger debate regarding gerrymandering in Illinois, New York, California, New Jersey, etc, this should be an interesting court case. Also, the Voting Rights Act specifically allows for protections of a "voice heard" from certain ethnic backgrounds and voting districts drawn in accordance with that mandate, I wonder if the rural vs. urban voter will be protected using the same basic rationale. I shall get the popcorn ready.
Interesting you would select only Blue states when Trump and Texas started this crazy change of rules in the middle of the decade to try and influence the outcome in the Midterm elections
Interesting that you've noticed. Perhaps I picked states that are virtually all Blue when slightly less than 1/2 of the population is not Blue yet have no representation other than Blue. As an example, consider the "fish hook" district that encompasses the Illinois side of the QCA and runs a narrow line down highways to capture neighborhoods 50+ miles away. I believe that if you study history sans the "Trump lens" you'll find that Illinois, California, New York, New Jersey, etc. started this "crazy change of rule" long ago. Both sides try, the Blue Man Group has perfected it.
Mike don’t confuse me comments as supporting any gerrymandering. My comment about Trump and Texas is just a new trick for the Midterms and the real fault is with the Supreme Court’s failure to enforce the Constitution
Actually, the modern-day mid-census redistricting appears to have started with Texas and Tom DeLay in 2003. There's an interesting CRS report that says it happened in the 19th and early 20th centuries, too, but over the last 110 years, it only mentions the DeLay effort in 2003. That is, until now.
Interesting they picked counties with large student populations as the source of their problem. My guess is that while students may vote in national elections they don’t care or don’t know much about county issues unless there is something egregious happening. I agree with John I would like to see the data to prove it but even if true sorry to say that is not a reason to minimize their impact on the election results. I wonder what answers they would have to justify their actions if the target were a minority group of people. Let’s just say it was Muslims or Vietnamese population and they consistently voted as a block would changing the rules to lessen their effect be fair in anyway. Students are easy targets because they are like visitors to a country who really don’t care because they are there only temporarily. The impact of this discrimination goes well beyond students and again is an example of the negative impact with one party controlling all the levers
How does "massive amounts of student population" affect election results? That those three counties universities contain massive amounts of students may be a fact, but how many students are full time residents of said counties? How many students meet residency requirements, or even bother to register, when they may be registered and live in another county or out of state? It appears the Republicans expect us to believe that every student at, say, the University of Iowa votes Democratic. My response is, prove it. The real reason why voters in the three counties lean Democratic may be by living in a progressive, open-minded community they are more inclined to vote for Democrats, and oppose a party that engages in voter suppression.
Another interesting and thought provoking article; thank you Ed.
Given the backdrop of a larger debate regarding gerrymandering in Illinois, New York, California, New Jersey, etc, this should be an interesting court case. Also, the Voting Rights Act specifically allows for protections of a "voice heard" from certain ethnic backgrounds and voting districts drawn in accordance with that mandate, I wonder if the rural vs. urban voter will be protected using the same basic rationale. I shall get the popcorn ready.
Interesting you would select only Blue states when Trump and Texas started this crazy change of rules in the middle of the decade to try and influence the outcome in the Midterm elections
Interesting that you've noticed. Perhaps I picked states that are virtually all Blue when slightly less than 1/2 of the population is not Blue yet have no representation other than Blue. As an example, consider the "fish hook" district that encompasses the Illinois side of the QCA and runs a narrow line down highways to capture neighborhoods 50+ miles away. I believe that if you study history sans the "Trump lens" you'll find that Illinois, California, New York, New Jersey, etc. started this "crazy change of rule" long ago. Both sides try, the Blue Man Group has perfected it.
Well said.
Mike don’t confuse me comments as supporting any gerrymandering. My comment about Trump and Texas is just a new trick for the Midterms and the real fault is with the Supreme Court’s failure to enforce the Constitution
Actually, the modern-day mid-census redistricting appears to have started with Texas and Tom DeLay in 2003. There's an interesting CRS report that says it happened in the 19th and early 20th centuries, too, but over the last 110 years, it only mentions the DeLay effort in 2003. That is, until now.
Thanks for the update
I guess the principle of ”One Man/Person, One Vote” No Longer lives in Iowa!”
Interesting they picked counties with large student populations as the source of their problem. My guess is that while students may vote in national elections they don’t care or don’t know much about county issues unless there is something egregious happening. I agree with John I would like to see the data to prove it but even if true sorry to say that is not a reason to minimize their impact on the election results. I wonder what answers they would have to justify their actions if the target were a minority group of people. Let’s just say it was Muslims or Vietnamese population and they consistently voted as a block would changing the rules to lessen their effect be fair in anyway. Students are easy targets because they are like visitors to a country who really don’t care because they are there only temporarily. The impact of this discrimination goes well beyond students and again is an example of the negative impact with one party controlling all the levers