Keep politicians hands off the election process

[ElasticNinja]

Not at all. Let's say a theoretical state is divided 50/50 area wise with half urban and half rural areas. In theory you would cut it right down the middle and thus have the rural state elect their representative and the urban half elect their representative. So both sides of the state would have equal representation even if 75% of the populace lived on the urban half of the state.

The side with 25% having the same representation as the side with 75% is wholly ridiculous.

 

[A.Nonymous]

How so? The needs of the rural populace are less important than the needs of the urban?

 

[ElasticNinja]

How so? The needs of the rural populace are less important than the needs of the urban?

There needs are as important, not more or less.
They deserve the same representation as anyone else in their state.

 

[A.Nonymous]

There needs are as important, not more or less.
They deserve the same representation as anyone else in their state.

Which they wouldn't get if the representatives are elected at large as the densely populated areas would sway the vote.

 

[OutofDate1980]

Yep, densely populated areas versus less densely populated areas have more people, therefore more votes.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Yep, densely populated areas versus less densely populated areas have more people, therefore more votes.

Which is why in an at large system, the less densely populated areas get no representation at all in a lot of cases.

 

[ElasticNinja]

Which is why in an at large system, the less densely populated areas get no representation at all in a lot of cases.

Oh come off it. Where I live, our national constituency has the minister for Agriculture, and agriculture and rural affairs are election issues, despite the place being overwhelmingly urban.

Our European constituency has three cities, but Parliamentarians have to appeal to the rural vote if they want to get elected.

 

[OutofDate1980]

The rural areas lobby to get prisons in their districts, while the prisoners can't vote, they count in the census for representation purposes.

 

[OutofDate1980]

Perhaps, population representation should be based on those that can vote, thus discouraging restricting the economics of those that can vote.