Would it help if election districts were drawn by computer?

Using 3 digit zip codes? Something like.

You start in the most Northeast 3 digit zip in the state, you count the voters in that 3 digit zip. You add the voters in the next most norheast 3 digit zip and keep doing that until you have enough population to = the right size for a congressional district, for example.

If adding the next 3 digit zip puts you way over (it could, if you went from a rural to densely populated area), then you start making step by step by 5 digits in the zip code.

It would stop the crazy gerrymandering you see, and might encourage candidates to be more moderate. You'd still end up with some districts that are pretty reliably republican and pretty reliably democrat, but it wouldn't be the case of "let's draw this district so it's 90% one party"

Posted: 02/25/2016 at 12:59PM

Would it help if election districts were drawn by computer? -- Late 80s Hokie 02/25/2016 12:59PM

Should be drawn by chimpanzees -- AlexHoo 02/25/2016 3:26PM

My first thought was that it makes sense for a Congressman to have -- 81_Hokie 02/25/2016 2:04PM

Rest assured the fcc or whoever controls that would become politicized ** -- HokieDan95 02/25/2016 1:40PM

OT: Not sure if it has been mentioned, but I can vote on this board now -- Chesapeake HOO 02/25/2016 1:24PM

Voting works now? Guess I'm sunk... -- Hokie5150 02/25/2016 1:37PM

Most of the folks who disagree with you wont be able to vote -- KCHoo 02/25/2016 2:02PM

You have no idea ** -- AngusHoo 02/25/2016 2:01PM

Yip, yip, yip ** -- Hokie5150 02/25/2016 2:13PM

Thanks. I discovered that the voting buttons work for me now as well -- Late 80s Hokie 02/25/2016 1:26PM

I like the shortest-splitline algorithm...(link) -- Hokie5150 02/25/2016 1:08PM

Works as well....but when you zoom in, where is the line? -- Late 80s Hokie 02/25/2016 1:15PM

I would think it would be rare for one to fall "on the line" -- Hokie5150 02/25/2016 1:35PM

Splitline is the best. But minorities will demand carveouts. -- Hoogle.com 02/25/2016 1:14PM

I think the zipcode idea addresses that concern fairly well -- Late 80s Hokie 02/25/2016 1:18PM

Are carve outs for racial-areas a form of gerrymandering? ** -- Hoogle.com 02/25/2016 5:42PM

Would it help if election districts were drawn by computer?

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