Gerrymandering Archive

Rethinking Redistricting: Where did it go?

By
Chris Spangle
Published: April 12, 2011

I noticed yesterday that the website RethinkingRedistricting.com was removed. I do not know what happened to it, and I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to compare the maps released by the Statehouse Republicans couldn’t be compared to the Rokita-drawn maps. Maybe removing the plan was the point, then?

Rethinking Redistricting was a plan put together by Secretary of State Todd Rokita (now the Congressman in the 4th District.) The plan put together districts based solely on census data. No other political data, aspirations, or considerations were used.

The Rethinking Redistricting plan were the maps the LPIN pushed to have adopted. So they wouldn’t be lost, I scanned in some old documents I had archived so you can view the details of the plan, including very high resolution photos of the districts.

View it here:

Rethinking Redistricting

Here is a PDF available for download.

You can get high resolution maps of the plan here: Congressional, Senate, and House.

Here are the maps proposed by the Senate and House GOP: Congressional, Senate, and House.

Libertarian Party of Indiana Statement on Indiana Redistricting Maps

By
Dan Drexler
Published: April 11, 2011

“As of today, both the Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly have released potential redistricting maps for the next decade’s elections,” said Sam Goldstein, State Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Indiana. “The previous Secretary of State, Republican Todd Rokita, put forth a common sense approach that would keep communities together. It is unfortunate that his plans were tossed aside.

Goldstein continued, “For example, State Senate district 28 stretches from Irvington in Indianapolis to the East edge of Henry County past Knightstown, IN. These two communities have different needs, and they deserve representation that serves those needs. Irvington is in the middle of the state’s largest city, and Knightstown, 30 miles away, is surrounded by farms.”

“The solution is an end to politicians choosing their voters. An independent commission should be written in to the Indiana Constitution within the next 10 years to ensure that voters are choosing their politicians. Hoosiers deserve to have fair and competitive districts. An end to Gerrymandering is essential to a vibrant republic. For the first time, these ideas were proposed at the beginning of this session, but died when the House Democrats walked out on their jobs for 5 weeks.”

House Democrats Kill Independent Redistricting Commission That Would End Gerrymandering

By
Chris Spangle
Published: February 23, 2011

At last count, 23 bills were killed by the House Democrats fleeing Indiana yesterday to avoid a quorum. Meeting quorum meant a vote had to be taken on several important bills.

One of the worst victims of this political stunt is a nonpartisan redistricting commission, HJR 0001. This would establish a commission to draw electoral districts, and be an enormous step towards ending Gerrymandering. It would take map drawing out of the hands of politicians. Gerrymandering means politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing their politicians.

The Libertarian Party of Indiana has been a long advocate for this commission. To find out more on responsible redistricting, please visit here.

The House Democrats also failed to meet today, February 23. This puts many house bills in jeopardy. From the Indianapolis Star:

A: Key deadlines were looming when House Democrats walked out. Tuesday was the last day for 23 bills — including the so-called “right to work” legislation — that had cleared committees to also clear a procedural hurdle so they could be presented to the full House. Unless the Democrats returned, the bills would be dead.

Thursday is the deadline for 25 other bills to have their “second reading” — basically, to be presented for further amendment on the House floor. Friday, any House bill that hasn’t received an up-or-down vote by the full chamber will be dead. (However, particularly with the budget bill, there is some room for creative options — such as having the Senate add a bill’s language into another bill that has cleared the House.)

Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission Formed

By
Mike Kole
Published: December 20, 2010

I am pleased to announce that I am participating as a member of the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission. The gerrymandering of electoral districts and the need to redraw maps with districts without political considerations is an issue I have been pressing for several years, including with my 2006 run for Indiana Secretary of State, and through the present with the lawsuit against the town of Fishers.

The Commission was assembled by Common Cause Indiana, and true to the organization’s name, Commission members represent a range of political perspectives. There are Democrats, Republicans, and yes Libertarians represented here. From the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel:

A citizen panel backed by the League of Women Voters and AARP will hold public hearings on the redistricting process and will monitor the drawing of new maps by the Indiana General Assembly.

The Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission, co-chaired by former lawmakers Dave Crooks of Washington, a Democrat, and Republican Bill Ruppel of North Manchester, says it wants to ensure the redistricting process emphasizes competition and fairness, not incumbent protection and partisan advantage.

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Libertarians – Redistricting and Gerrymandering Seminar on December 17th

By
Mark Rutherford
Published: December 6, 2010

Dear Libertarian Friends:

I am once again helping Common Cause with their yearly December seminar on the 17th. It is a topic near and dear to the hearts of most Libertarians – Redistricting and Gerrymandering.

Below is a brochure on it.

It is $25 for non-attorneys – $15 for students.

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LPIN Podcast: Joe Hauptmann Issues a Strong Challenge in District 87

By
Chris Spangle
Published: September 24, 2010

Joe Hauptmann has pretty much done it all within the Libertarian Party. He’s been Indiana’s State Chair twice, on the LNC’s Platform Committee three times, and he’s run for numerous offices including Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction.

This year, Hauptmann is running for Indiana House in District 87 in a two-way race. The Democrats didn’t even bother to challenge in this gerrymandered district.

Especially when he speaks about education issues, Joe’s knowledge and passion for good public policy shine through. In this installment of the podcast, Hauptmann talks about a range of issues, including education, gerrymandered districts, and a pledge to read proposed legislation.

www.electjoeh.com

Redistricting – End Gerrymandering

By
LPIN Editor
Published: March 22, 2010

The Libertarian Party of Indiana supports changing the way that federal and state legislative districts are drawn.  Gerrymandering hurts our election process by ensuring that only one party rules in most Indiana Congressional, General Assembly, County, and local races. Voters are served best when they have the ability to vote for more than 1 party! There is a word for that, and it’s not America.

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Libertarian Party of Indiana Calls for an End to Partisan Redistricting

By
LPIN Editor
Published: November 30, 2009

Libertarian Party of Indiana Calls for an End to Partisan Redistricting; Urges Public to Attend Upcoming Seminar to Get Informed and Join Forces with Reform Coalition

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Today in Indianapolis the Libertarian Party of Indiana reaffirmed its long-time support for changing the way that federal and state legislative districts are drawn. Redistricting reform has finally become a hot topic in Indiana recently, starting with Secretary of State Todd Rokita’s push for a less partisan process and followed by Senate President Pro Tem David Long’s announcement that he will work for a set of redistricting criteria and the eventual creation of a non-partisan redistricting commission.

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