(Also called "Reapportionment")

Village Square forum opening arguments for and against Amendments 5 & 6

Background

The Constitution requires that a census be held every ten years to determine the population of each state and that the 435 Congressional seats be reapportioned according to this new data. The Constitution leaves the methods for electing Representatives – including redistricting – up to the individual states. Article I Section IV states:

"The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place of Chusing [sic] Senators."

Gerrymandering is a practice where these districts are drawn to create certain electoral results resulting in odd shaped districts that don't have natural geographical and community boundaries.

This set of two amendments would prevent gerrymandering of districts, requiring districts to be drawn by the legislature into compact, contiguous and respect city and county boundaries when possible.

Amendment 5 Ballot Summary

STANDARDS FOR LEGISLATURE TO FOLLOW IN LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING

BALLOT SUMMARY: Legislative districts or districting plans may not be drawn to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party. Districts shall not be drawn to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. Districts must be contiguous. Unless otherwise required, districts must be compact, as equal in population as feasible, and where feasible must make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries.

Amendment 6 Ballot Summary

STANDARDS FOR LEGISLATURE TO FOLLOW IN CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING

BALLOT SUMMARY: Congressional districts or districting plans may not be drawn to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party. Districts shall not be drawn to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. Districts must be contiguous. Unless otherwise required, districts must be compact, as equal in population as feasible, and where feasible must make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries.

Who they are: Organized proponents and opponents

Organization	Position on 5 & 6	Democrats in main organizational  positions	Republicans in main organizational positions
Fair Districts Florida	In favor	Senator Bob Graham, Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno Former State Senator Daryl Jones	Former Florida Comptroller Bob Milligan Former U.S. Interior Secretary Nathaniel Reed
Protect Your Vote	Opposed	U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown	Former Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning, U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart

Fair Districts Florida says that legislators can essentially draw their own districts:

"In the last 6 years, there have been 420 elections for State Senator and State Representative. Only three incumbents have been defeated! After all, their districts are specially designed for them! With virtually certain seats, legislators have no incentive to be responsive to their constituents and they see no reason to compromise for the public good." 

Politifact confirms these numbers in a fact check HERE.

Protect Your Vote says that Fair Districts will endanger minority representation, create confusion and result in courts drawing districts:

Mario Diaz-Balart (R): "The amendments will have the effect of bleaching the state of Florida.. (the people behind this amendment) are the same individuals and same huge interest groups trying to help keep minorities from getting representation."

Corrine Brown (D): (We are) "prepared to fight all the way to the Supreme Court."

Collins Center video

Resources

Florida Senate Committee on Reapportionment

Florida Thinks on Fair Districts 

Gerrymandering: The film^Po