A day after LATFOR released the official electoral maps for New York State, Common Cause/NY offered up a numerical analysis of how the lines stack up against its alternative reform map. Measured against three criteria, LATFOR’s maps egregiously disadvantage minority communities, abuse the federally mandated principle of ‘one person one vote’, and violate the constitutional provision to avoid crossing county lines whenever possible.
“After further analysis, LATFOR’s maps are even more atrocious than we previously realized. Both majorities went out of their way to protect their political interests to the detriment of the public interest. The maps completely undermine the essence of our democracy and must be revised to reflect the demographic reality of New York State,” said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.
Minority Communities: LATFOR vs. Common Cause Reform Plan
State Senate
Non-Hispanic Black:
LATFOR: 7 majority, 6 influence
Common Cause Reform: 7 majority, 8 influence
Hispanic:
LATFOR: 6 majority, 8 influence
Common Cause Reform: 6 majority, 1 near-majority (47.4%), 10 influence
Non-Hispanic Asian:
LATFOR: 1 majority, 3 influence
Common Cause Reform: 1 majority, 5 influence
State Assembly
Non-Hispanic Black:
LATFOR: 15 majority, 17 influence
Common Cause Reform: 17 majority, 17 influence
Hispanic:
LATFOR: 14 majority, 21 influence
Common Cause Reform: 16 majority, 18 influence
Non-Hispanic Asian:
LATFOR: 3 majority, 8 influence
Common Cause Reform: 3 majority, 10 influence
Population Deviation: LATFOR vs. Common Cause Reform Maps
State Senate
In LATFOR’s maps, the population deviations range from -4.97% to + 3.83%, with an absolute mean deviation of 3.67%. The biggest difference in district size is 27,035 people.
• There are 26 upstate districts, with a mean deviation of -4.5%
• There are 28 NYC/Westchester districts, with a mean deviation of + 3.3%
In the Common Cause Reform Plan, the population deviation ranges from -2.9% to +2.59%, with a mean deviation of 1.4%. The biggest difference in district size is 16,864 people.
• 25 upstate districts, with a mean deviation of -0.49%
• 29 NYC/Westchester districts, with a mean deviation of -0.43%
State Assembly
In LATFOR’s maps, the population deviations range from -3.88% to + 4.06%, which is a mean deviation of 2.56%. The biggest difference in district size is 10,259 people.
• 63 districts upstate, with a mean deviation of +2.44%
• 65 NYC districts, with a mean deviation of -2.32%
In the Common Cause Reform Plan, the population deviations range from -1.79% to +2.96%, with a mean deviation of 1.06%. The biggest difference in district size is 6,121 people.
• 64 Upstate, with a mean deviation of +0.65%
• 64 NYC, with a mean deviation of -0.61%
County Crossings
The LATFOR plan for the Senate crosses 16 small upstate counties:
• Putnam
• Rockland
• Dutchess
• Delaware
• Albany
• Saratoga
• Washington
• Chenango
• Herkimer
• Oneida
• Ontario
• Livingston
• St. Lawrence
• Cayuga
• Ulster
• Tompkins
In so doing, LATFOR divides three small upstate counties (St. Lawrence, Cayuga, and Tompkins) between three senate districts, and divides Ulster County between four senate districts
In contrast, the Common Cause Reform Plan crosses only nine small upstate counties:
• Putnam
• Ulster
• Dutchess
• Rensselaer
• Saratoga
• Broome
• Oswego
• Niagara
• Herkimer
The reform maps do not divide any small counties into more than two districts.
Background
In December, Common Cause released a set of proposed Congressional and State maps drawn according to good government principles, available for New Yorkers to view and adjust on the UMapNY application on Newsday’s website, Newsday.com.
The maps can also be viewed here: www.citizenredistrictny.org/reform-maps
The Common Cause reform maps are drawn according to the following criteria:
• Respect one-person, one-vote by drawing state legislative districts with a population deviation of no more than +/- 3% from the ideal value, with a mean deviation for the whole plan within 1%.
• Compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act.
• Respect communities of interest by drawing districts that reflect the social, cultural, racial, ethnic, and economic interests common to the population of the area. A community of interest is a local population with common social and economic interests that would benefit from the unified political representation provided by inclusion within a single political district.
• Traditional redistricting factors, like contiguity, compactness and respect for county, city, town, village, and school district lines whenever possible.
• Following an “incumbent blind” process and one that does not seek to advantage any particular political party in drawing the lines
• Re-allocating incarcerated persons back to their districts of last residence
Mark Haber
February 26, 2012
David Britt
January 27, 2012