UConn: Study shows representation differs across nation

[MaineDem]

Source: Portland Press Herald

STORRS, Conn. — The weight that one person´s vote carries in Congress varies significantly from state to state, according to a new report from the Connecticut State Data Center at the University of Connecticut.

The study, released Thursday, found that congressional apportionment based on a state´s total population results in unequal levels of representation across the country because of blocks of nonvoting residents.

But if representation in the U.S. House of Representatives were based on how many people vote, three New England states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine, could each pick up a seat, according to the report.

"Vote-count methodology is based on those who vote _ not on a questionable census population count," the Data Center´s report reads. "Consequently, vote-count apportionment will provide greater assurance of fairness, transparency and accuracy when allocating seats to individual states."

Read more: http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8TPTVG01-360.html

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Interesting thought.

[ThomCat]

1. The big problem with awarding seats based on how many people

vote, is that it gives a huge incentive for a national party (*cough*, Republicans, *cough*) to engage in massive voter suppression.

They do it now, but why give them an even bigger incentive and reward?

[underpants]

2. Interesting but representation is supposed to be for all not just those who vote

Plus that would necessarily freeze out those who can't vote (kids and convicted felons) are they not supposed to be represented?

[harmonicon]

3. and non-citizen immigrants

Representatives should be representing their districts in congress, not just those who voted for them (I know this is about all voters, but a majority of them would have voted for the congressman).

[AZ Criminal JD]

4. In 1964 the Supreme Court ruled that districts must be equal

in population (Wesberry v. Sanders). It would take a Constitutional amendment to change that decision.