New approach for political redistricting

There has been considerable discussion regarding the redrawing of the political districts of California. It has been suggested to use a group of judges or a citizens redistricting commission to take the politics out of drawing the district boundaries. Here is a suggestion that would do just exactly that.

California districts could be determined by dividing the state, by population, from west to east by using latitude or parallel lines. These districts would be truly nonpartisan as they would include people from the coastal regions to mountainous regions. An example would be San Francisco to Tahoe in one district. This would eliminate the need for a group of judges or the Legislature to try and juggle lines around to suit any one group. All it would take is a group of analysts every 10 years to determine where the population fell along these latitude lines, and politics would not even come into the decision.

This idea is probably too simple and couldn’t be manipulated to suit any one party, but it would be an equitable way to determine these districts. An assemblyman or senator would really have to work to get the support of his entire district.

Roland D. Zook

Yuba City