Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Redistricting is normally done at the end of each 10-year U.S. census cycle. The current unusual mid-cycle redistricting, and gerrymandering – a centuries old practice, was initiated in Texas by President Trump to gain an advantage in the mid-terms to improve the odds that Republicans would hold the House, something he fears could be lost. Of course, Democrats responded in California, and on it went. Then the Supreme Court decided to terminate racial preferences in creating districts, after local primaries had already been held in Tennessee. Immediately Tennessee, with eight districts currently held by Republicans and one by Democrats, decided to gerrymander to create new districts mid-cycle, mid-election, giving them the edge in picking up the last seat by splitting up Memphis, an approach that was successful in Nashville. If this is successful, all nine representatives from Tennessee would be Republican, in spite of a nominal 60-40% split of votes in a typical election and thus, no districts will be represented by Democrats. Moreover, what’s wrong with doing this now?
First, we’re already into the election with the first primary already held. How will this impact that? Second, certain candidates have already qualified in the current districts. How will this impact that? Third, will the timing be such that ballots can be properly created and distributed? Fourth, will voters in each new district be notified of the change? Apparently, that’s not a requirement in the new law, even though it was in the old law. Fifth, how will this impact absentee and military ballots? Sixth, much effort and expense has already been spent preparing for the election as currently structured. How much will this re-do cost? Is it in the budget? Seventh, this apparently requires that you need not be a citizen of the district in which you live to represent that district. Do we want that? I do not. Eighth, does this change comply with current legislative rules? It’s a point of contention in court. Even as an independent, if feels a bit like having a distasteful thing shoved down my throat. It’s a pure power grab at the behest of a broadly unpopular president, further alienating and polarizing our citizens when we need to be looking for compromise and common cause. It’s liable to backfire and it’s just wrong.
Ron Moore,
Farragut
