Democrats’ data predicts upstate losses in representation
One of the stories we’ve been following is how the electoral redistricting mandated after every U.S. Census will affect representation in Washington and Albany.
A key question for state representatives in the region is where prison inmates will be counted. In prison? Or in their hometowns? Right now, they’re counted in prison, and that’s boosted numbers in upstate, largely Republican, districts, such as that of state Sen. Betty Little of Queensbury.
The Albany Times Union reports this morning on a new analysis released by Democrats in the Assembly. It’s based on district lines drawn with inmates counted at their last known home address, and shows losses in some Senate districts, including Little’s, of thousands:
In the closely divided Senate, the district lines are of particular import. They are drawn by LATFOR, a legislative task force, once every 10 years. Republicans currently control that chamber, and the new data show just how large the shift is.
The target district size is around 312,000 people. The district represented by Sen. Patrick Gallivan, R-Elma, would lose 7,119 constituents. The district of Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, would shrink by 11,610 people. She is the lead plaintiff on the lawsuit, and says inmates should be counted where they use services — that is, where they are incarcerated.
“This is where their carbon footprint is. This is where they’re living, just like a person in a college dormitory or a nursing home. I think it’s extremely political that they were taken out just for the purposes of redistricting,” she said. “If I have to expand, I’ll expand. I already have the largest district with six complete counties.”
Tags: politics, redistricting
Gee? Things done for political purposes? How truly amazing!
I don’t believe prisoners should be counted (for political purposes) of living anywhere since what they are doing is hardly living.
Yes, I know, this would be a bit like Solomon offering to cut the baby in half. Come to think of it, Solomon was wise and wise is not what can be expected of our politicians.
Like children, the politicians scream, “Mine, mine, mine! Give me, give me, give me.”
The Constitution mandates that all people be counted. So you can’t not-count them.
Betty Little’s argument that they get services from the communities in which they reside is a hollow one, besides being self-serving.
The districts where the criminals originated should bear the entire cost of incarcerating them.