Unique Last Chance?
IOWA

Chicago Tribune July 11, 2010
Lawmakers launch unique redistricting [that most Iowans ratify]
by Mike Glover
In Iowa, the issue is settled by the Legislative Services Agency, a nonpartisan group of lawyers and economists who draft bills, offer financial projections and give other technical advice to the Legislature. And they don't talk publicly about their recommendations.

Virginia
Richmond Times Dispatch July 11, 2010 Last Chance
Staff Reports writes:
Although the history of these exercises almost compels cynicism, as noted above, we are not ready to raise the white flag. With gusto we embrace the efforts of the Virginia Redistricting Coalition, whose members include numerous distinguished individuals from inside professional politics....

July 4th passes & still no redistricting reform; Aug. 4th deadline looms
Ohio
Ohio Legislators went back to their (probably) gerrymandered districts without passing necessary redistricting reform legislation. They have until August 4th, to pass a redistricting reform bill. But, they have to return to work. Ohio Impact - Political Accountability for Citizens Today has links to more information and recent headlines.

Wisconsin
In this opinion item posted on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the authors write :
As the charcoals cool and the fireworks fade after another Independence Day celebration of our ideals of freedom and equality, a specter remains: the gerrymander, poised to deny voters an equal voice in their elections for yet another decade.
read more by Krist Novoselic and Rob Richie
Redistricting need not be political blood sport

Florida
Fair Districts Florida.org listed as the Sponsor of Amendments 5 and 6 on the Florida 2010 General Election ballot had to be pleased their proposed amendment survived another court challenge.
Judge tosses out Legislature's bid on redistricting
July 7, 2010 Miami Herald by By Marc Caputo and Lee Logan wrote:
....Critics of Florida's system point out that Republicans control almost two-thirds of the Legislature and three-fifths of U.S. House seats, but registered Republicans are about 36 percent of the electorate.

National
Next is another opinion item by Michael McDonald and Micah Altman posted on the Washington Post July 9, 2010.
In Pulling back the curtain on redistricting

Redistricting Information Links
Redistricting Reform in the States: June 2010 Fair Vote The Center for Voting and Democracy

Redistricting Brennan Center For Justice

Apportionment Projections Polidata

Redistricting in America A State-by-State Analysis Rose Institute of State and Local Government

110th Congressional Districts National Atlas

List of United States Congressional Districts Wikipedia

Calling David Boies
In my view the "problem" with gerrymandering is only two political parties and one race participate in the scheme. If you don't have a D or R after your name you don't have a guy at the drawing board to mark out a district for your ideological point of view or ethnicity.

In a democratic America we would have (at least) as many congressional districts as there are counties - 3140. And those 3140 congressional districts could be built up out of voter registration party preferences. I don't even mind having districts based on race. As long as we all get to vote for someone who represents our ideology.
I live in a gerrymandered (R) district, I’m a D and my vote is very effectively sealed off from the Democratic Party in my state because of the gerrymandering.

The solution is to make districts 100% R, D, and whatever else. Even the conservatives could have their own congressional districts. A blend of GPS technology with specific location information and detailed voter registration rolls would make specific districting possible. From my local precinct I could vote for local issues and candidates, statewide issues, and national candidates on a personalized ballot.


The way it is now my right to have my vote count doesn’t even exist. Yes, I can vote, but my vote does not count because that fundamental part of my right to vote was bartered away in a back room deal between the Rs and Ds here in Ohio.

The conduct of the elected beneficiaries of our Constitution is rotten with corruption.

Congressional Redistricting - Reform Stalled?
House and Senate Democratic numbers are equally terrible....
Anti-Incumbent Election? Don’t Hold Your Breath
By Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call Contributing Writer -- CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS Jan. 25, 2010

Ohio :
Unless reformers can persuade the legislature by Feb. 3 to approve ballot issues that would lead to sweeping changes in the redistricting process, most incumbents from political parties will find themselves in seats they can easily retain when the new districts are drawn up next year by the governor and the legislature.
This year's vote to decide who draws the map
By Jack Torry The Columbus Dispatch - January 25, 2010

More Congressional Districts Would Improve USA

On Aug 31, 2006 I wrote that America needed to apportion more Congressional Districts and offered my reasons.

Today, October 7, 2009 it nearly floored me to see Jonah Goldberg write about the same subject and outline the reasons America would be better off with more Congressional Districts.
read: More lawmakers? Don't laugh, we'd be better off

Links to Mississippi lawsuit info

Peter Baker New York Times Sept. 17, 2009

Parties involved Justia Federal District Court Filings and Dockets

LexisNexus

Congressional Seats on the move

States in the north, midwest, and east will probably lose Congressional Seats. States in the south and west, deemed to be a lousy climate for business will gain 13 Congressional Seats.

National Journal.com by Richard E. Cohen
New Census Estimates Show South And West Gaining At The Expense Of Northeast And Midwest; Texas In Line For Biggest Increase
Up To 13 Seats Could Be Reapportioned In 2010

Ballot Box has Moving South and West

On MarketWatch earlier this month:
Special Report
Warm regions sinking to bottom 10 on cities' list
By Russ Britt, MarketWatch
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) - They may seem like paradise to those trying to escape bitter cold, but warm-weather cities can make for a pretty lousy climate for business, at least according to a MarketWatch survey.

DLC - Gerrymandering the Vote

DLC has a pdf document available:

GerrymanderinG
the Vote
How a “Dirty Dozen” States Suppress
as Many as 9 Million Voters

by Marc Dunkelman
June 2008

Home page for The Democratic Leadership Council

Will we ever have this reform?

Should the Federal Government Push Non-Partisan Redistricting? posted by Josh Goodman Governing.com Ballot Box
...."What's intriguing about federal redistricting reform is that it doesn't benefit one party in particular...."

Gridlock in the Forecast Redistricting reform could help, with a push from Congress and the presidential candidates.
Washington Post Editorial Aug. 18, 2008

"....partisanship and the gridlock it helps bring to government could be reduced. The key is redistricting reform..."

Americans for Redistricting Reform
"The non-partisan Americans for Redistricting Reform is a national umbrella organization comprised of groups from across the political spectrum that recognizes the critical need to reform our nation's redistricting process. With the 2010 Census and the subsequent redistricting cycle fast approaching, Americans for Redistricting Reform is committed to raising public awareness of redistricting abuses and promoting solutions that benefit voters and strengthen our democracy.

Redistricting reform is needed to ensure transparency of the process and to provide a more meaningful opportunity for effective public participation. Voters should choose elected representatives, not the other way around."

Electoral vote measure fails to make June ballot

Well it seemed to me it was going to be unconstitutional anyway, so I'm glad this is one debate we won't be having before 2008.

Los Angeles Times by By Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 7, 2007