EDITORIAL

We think: An effort to reduce predictability in political districts deserves support

June 29, 2008

Looking at the list of candidates for the 140 state legislative races on this year's ballot, one might never realize there are roughly the same number of registered Democrats and Republicans in Florida.

In more than a quarter of those races -- 39 -- candidates are running without opposition. They won their seats just by meeting the filing deadline.

That's bound to keep happening as long as legislators are free after every 10-year census to draw districts with a clear majority of voters inclined to support incumbents or their parties. A combination of extensive data on voters and sophisticated computers has made legislators more adept than ever in customizing districts.

But those districts often are contorted and cut through multiple cities or counties. They dilute communities' common interests.

Legislators who represent such safe districts are less accountable to voters. They are more likely to cater to their party's base in office than to seek bipartisan solutions to pressing problems.

Florida's term limits for legislators also work against competition for seats. Challengers often put off running until an incumbent is forced to leave office.

A bipartisan group advocating redistricting reform in Florida, FairDistrictsFlorida.org, is now pushing a plan to amend the state constitution. The plan would require legislators to draw compact, community-based districts without regard to partisan makeup.

Fixing the redistricting process may not be easy. But unless it is changed, voters won't get the choices they deserve.