3rd District Gerrymandering Highlights Need for Nonpartisan Redistricting

Press Release

In the wake of Tuesday's federal court decision striking down Virginia's Third Congressional District boundaries, Robert Sarvis has called for nonpartisan redistricting for state and federal elections.

"Even absent a racial motivation, gerrymandering for partisan advantage and incumbent protection is also wrong. It is specifically designed to perpetuate power and deprive voters of competitive elections and fair representation. It's self-dealing in the worst possible way, literally rigging the system," Sarvis said.

Counsel for eight Republican members of Congress admitted in federal court that the plans for the Third District were drawn to benefit Republicans in adjacent districts.

"Their entire argument," Sarvis said, "is, hey, we're not racist, we're just crassly self-interested, partisan, craven, and corrupted by power."

Sarvis emphasized that both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of gerrymandering for partisan advantage, pointing to the experience of 2011, and called for a redistricting process that is entirely nonpartisan and blind to partisan advantage, incumbent protection, race, and other factors. "Let's pick a neutral, fair computer algorithm that runs automatically and avoids the pitfalls of political self-dealing."

Sarvis issued a challenge for all candidates seeking election in 2014: "I support neutral, nonpartisan redistricting, and I call on every candidate to declare whether or not they support it as well."

Source