Why I'm Voting Yes on Virginia's Redistricting Amendment - Jamelle Bouie

Today Virginia votes on a constitutional amendment that would allow mid-decade redistricting — redrawing congressional maps in a way that would eliminate most Republican-held seats in the state.

Here is why you should vote "Yes."

Partisan gerrymandering is bad in principle — the maps should reflect voters, not the other way around — and in an ideal world it wouldn't exist at all. But since 2010, Republicans have run an aggressive, nationally coordinated gerrymandering campaign in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio, and elsewhere, while Democrats have largely played by rules the other side abandoned.

Game theory is clear on what happens when one player breaks the rules and keeps winning: the other player has to match the bid, or lose indefinitely. Virginia's amendment isn't about abstract fairness. It's about making Republican gerrymandering cost something — and taking one concrete step toward a Congress that actually reflects the country.