<x-flowed>That's what my argument would be too, and I think this is confirmed by a
CRS memo done on the proposal to give DC a voting rep. by giving Utah a
temporary additional at-large rep. The later problem would obviously be
a potential VRA problem and dilution of minority voting strength with
regard to ability to elect the at-large seat, but since Utah is not
diverse, not a likely problem there.
Also, the 1967 congressional statute mandating single-member districts
exists, and I'm not sure how that would be interpreted in light of a
SINGLE, single-member, at-large district.....
--
David Moon
Program Director
F a i r V o t e
The Center for Voting and Democracy
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Phone: (301) 270-4616
Fax: (301) 270-4133
Email:
dmoon@fairvote.org
Website:
www.fairvote.org
Douglas Johnson wrote:
I haven't looked at it in detail, but at a glance here's the reasoning
(playing devil's advocate, as I don't have a position for or against
this idea):
The 'one person, one vote' rule of Baker v Carr and its successors aims
to ensure that each person has equal power to influence the selection of
his/her representative in Congress.
Under this Utah scenario each Utah person has equal representation 'by
district,' and equal influence/representation with the 'at large'
representative. It doesn't matter (by this theory) that the 'by
district' Members and the 'at large' Member have different sized
districts, because every person has an equal influence with one 'by
district' Member and equal influence with the 'at large' Member.
Where this would run into trouble (under this theory) is if some people
were only represented by the 'at large' Member, but that's not the case.
- Doug
Douglas Johnson
Fellow
Rose Institute of State and Local Government
doug@talksoftly.com
310-200-2058
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-election-law_gl@majordomo.lls.edu
[mailto:owner-election-law_gl@majordomo.lls.edu] On Behalf Of J.M. Wice
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 8:53 AM
To: Rick Hasen; owner-election-law_gl@majordomo.lls.edu; election-law
Subject: Utah congressional legislation
Has anybody analyzed or written anything on the proposal to create an
at-large congressional district for Utah. I've been asked by several
Utah officials how this wouldn't violate population deviation standards.
Jeff Wice
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.
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