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The problem with the efficiency gap as a metric is that, even when districts are drawn by algorithms blind to partisan affiliation, (considering only geometric

The problem with the efficiency gap as a metric is that, even when districts are drawn by algorithms blind to partisan affiliation, (considering only geometric compactness, for instance,) often an efficiency gap persists. "The challenge for House Democrats is that their while their voter coalition has proved large enough to carry the popular vote in five of the past six presidential elections, it remains intensely concentrated, mostly in urban areas. That concentration provides a systematic advantage to Republicans in the struggle for the House—even before considering the GOP's edge in control of redistricting after the 2010 census." (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/01/the-gops-control-of-congress-is-only-getting-stronger/431775/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/01/the-gop...) Gerrymandering is bad, but fair and equal representation is an individual right, not something to which political parties are entitled.

maxerickson 10y ago
The problem with the efficiency gap as a metric is that, even when districts are drawn by algorithms blind to partisan affiliation, (considering only geometric compactness, for instance,) often an efficiency gap persists. I think that just illustrates that no rule will meet all definitions of fair. The proposal in the article hand waves it away by suggesting that the efficiency gap be used as a limiting test on proposed districts rather than drawing districts so that it is minimized.
eli_gottlieb 10y ago
>Gerrymandering is bad, but fair and equal representation is an individual right, not something to which political parties are entitled. Individuals vote for parties or candidates of their choosing. Regions do not have any right to representation. One person, one vote means we reallocate seats to urban areas which are currently deprived of representatives for their voters.

maxerickson 10y ago

The problem with the efficiency gap as a metric is that, even when districts are drawn by algorithms blind to partisan affiliation, (considering only geometric compactness, for instance,) often an efficiency gap persists. I think that just illustrates that no rule will meet all definitions of fair. The proposal in the article hand waves it away by suggesting that the efficiency gap be used as a limiting test on proposed districts rather than drawing districts so that it is minimized.

eli_gottlieb 10y ago

>Gerrymandering is bad, but fair and equal representation is an individual right, not something to which political parties are entitled. Individuals vote for parties or candidates of their choosing. Regions do not have any right to representation. One person, one vote means we reallocate seats to urban areas which are currently deprived of representatives for their voters.