Democracy Wire

Capital Region Council of Governments (CapCOG) – a council of governments that represents 40 Boroughs, Cities and Townships surrounding Harrisburg – passed a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to end partisan gerrymandering. The CapCOG resolution follows in the footsteps of the Cumberland County, Pittsburgh City Council, and Swarthmore Borough Council resolutions, demanding an end to partisan gerrymandering by way of a constitutional amendment.

Common Cause Ohio and other voting advocates are urging legislators to derail a fast- tracked bill that would make it tougher for state courts to protect every voter’s right to cast a ballot in the 2016 presidential election.

Common Cause Ohio is celebrating one victory and going to work toward another in the ongoing fight to ensure that citizens have ready and complete access to information about the workings of government.

Not so long ago, Wisconsin was heralded as a national model for clean, accountable and open government. Other states sought to emulate Wisconsin’s system of government. We cannot say this today. Perhaps the most notable reason is the unwillingness of our legislators to pass or even discuss nonpartisan redistricting of Wisconsin’s congressional and state legislative districts.

The Special Interim Committee should be called upon and encouraged to draft a strong reform proposal which should include a citizen-led redistricting commission that will draw districts according to a set of statutory guidelines. Reform of the redistricting process before the next round of maps are drawn in 2021 is critical to the future of the electoral process.

The time for independent redistricting reform in Georgia is now. States similar to Georgia are already tackling this tough issue.