New Game Reveals How Politicians Play with Districts (Rep. John Tanner)

Today I joined the University of Southern California in announcing the Capitol Hill debut of The Redistricting Game, a hands-on tool to help voters understand our broken redistricting system, how it affects the ability of Congress to work together across a growing partisan divide, and why it is so important that we fix the system now.

The current system lets politicians select their voters instead of waiting for the voters to elect them. The result is more polarized Congressional districts and a shrinking political center in Washington, where fewer Members are inclined to work across the aisle to put the needs of their constituents and the country ahead of those of their political parties.

I hope those interested in politics, Congress and voters’ rights will take the time to play The Redistricting Game to see first-hand why we must reclaim the political process through redistricting reform like The Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act (H.R. 543), which I introduced this year with Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.). Our bill would limit mid-decade redistricting and create independent commissions in each state to conduct Congressional redistricting after the decennial census.