Amendments 5 And 6 Poised To Pass

November 3, 2010

A pair of constitutional amendments meant by backers to take some of the politics out of drawing legislative and congressional districts appeared headed for approval early Wednesday morning.

The proposals – aimed at keeping parties from drawing districts to favor themselves or particular legislators – looked likely to be one of the few dark spots for Republicans on an otherwise GOP night across the nation. Republicans are in power and set to draw the districts for the Legislature and Congress in 2012, and fought hard against the two proposals, Amendment 5 and Amendment 6.

The amendments were the culmination of efforts to limit the influence of politics on the drawing of the boundaries by a group called Fair Districts Florida. The measures survived constitutional challenges and a competing legislative proposal that was struck down by the courts.

Amendments 5 and 6, which early Wednesday morning were on course to reach the 60 percent. With more than 92 percent of precincts reporting, Amendment 5 had the support of 62.5 percent of voters. Amendment 6 was supported by 62.8 percent of voters, according to the Division of Elections figures.

The measures – one covering legislative districts and the other congressional – would require that voting districts be compact, contiguous and respect city and county boundaries when possible. The proposals’ thorniest provisions would prohibit line drawers from favoring incumbent politicians or political parties, a perk the majority party has enjoyed for generations.

Fair Districts spent nearly $9 million to promote the amendments. The measure’s major contributors were Democratic-allied groups, including the Florida Education Association, the National Education Association, and the Service Employees International Union. Supporters also include AARP, the Florida League of Women Voters and the state NAACP.

Opponents were led by state Republican lawmakers who called the plan unworkable and said it would dilute minority access to state and federal office by prohibiting districts from being drawn to ensure minority representation.

Such access districts were created during redistricting in 1992 and 2002 to create voting districts with as many black Democrats as possible. The changes helped clear the way for Florida to elect its first minority representatives in Congress since shortly after the Civil War, while also increasing the small number then serving in the Legislature.

But such minority-packed districts also reduced the Democratic population in surrounding areas. That allowed Florida Republicans to flourish and in 1996 win control of the Legislature for the first time in 122 years. Redistricting in 2002 only solidified the GOP’s grip on legislative power.

The Florida NAACP and most black Democratic lawmakers have rejected Republican claims that the changes would hurt minorities, saying federal protections are unaffected.

By Michael Peltier
The News Service Florida

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News