David Pepper for Auditor of the State of Ohio
Today, I received an email from David Pepper's campaign staff that offers an opportunity to read his plan for improving things here in Ohio. They call this plan,
"The Pepper Plan" which is memorable. And just like the spice we use at the dinner table, this plan covers the target zones with very little spillover.

I was glad to see that point # 10 of his ten point plan offers something to correct our gerrymandering problem. If elected our state Auditor, Pepper will hold one of the 5 seats on the apportionment board. I thought his plan to correct some of the gerrymandering problems shows that he understands the problem and the consequences of doing nothing. Read entire 10 point plan here

Beneficiaries of Gerrymandering fight back


Beware FAIR's and Feuer's Foists by Paul Hatfield
While Berman is attempting to return redistricting to partisan politicians through Proposition 27, the other arm of the pincer is Proposition 25. ......
.......Our current districts are handcuffs .......

 Political Junkie - by Ken Rudin
With Redistricting Approaching, New Focus on Gubernatorial Races
"...... On Thursday's "Morning Edition" on NPR, Peter Overby and I  (Ken Rudin) will be there to walk you through what's at stake.  I (Rudin) will be on to talk about the individual gubernatorial races and discuss their importance, and Peter will follow with a piece on the roles played by the Democratic and Republican governors associations (the DGA and RGA) and how they are becoming major players in national politics.
The segment begins at 6:10 a.m. Eastern and will be repeated every two hours, until you get sick of listening to it. ...... Read More


Office of University Communications University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
Released 8/23/10 By Steve Smith
Protect 'communities of interest' when drawing new House districts

Florida Justices react skeptically to redistricting amendment
Florida's high court heard arguments on three separate constitutional amendments drafted by the Legislature and removed from the Nov. 2 ballot because judges found them misleading.....Leon County Circuit Judge James Shelfer concluded last month that Amendment 7 was misleading, noting it took him three days to figure out that the amendment would supersede every other standard for redistricting. Specifically, it would allow lawmakers to lump together in districts communities of racial and language-minorities, as well as "communities of common interest."

Orlando Sentinel by Aaron Deslatte August 18, 2010

Ohio Candidates talk redistricting | Columbus Dispatch Politics by Jim Siegel August 14, 2010

"Regardless of who wins, those who really want to change the way legislative districts are drawn face two major challenges: They must deflect pressure from party leaders who want districts drawn in their favor; and they must agree with one another on guidelines for drawing districts......"

Redistrict plan dies from lack of accord

Ohio State University professor said it would have been the best redistricting proposal in the United States.

If so, it's now the nation's best dead redistricting proposal - and there is plenty of blame to spread around the Ohio Statehouse.

Less gerrymandering + more Representatives = better government?
Miller-McCune Online February 23, 2010
by Emily Badger Do gerrymanders come in shades of red and blue
Scholars assess whether the widely accepted notion that the current political polarization in the U.S. is due in part to ’safe’ political districts is accurate.

Miller-McCune Online September 17, 2009
by Lee Drutman Is the House of Representatives too small?
The U.S. House of Representatives has been at 435 members since 1911, when the country was a third of its current population. Research suggests that districts may now be getting too big for adequate representation.

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