Little discussed in yesterday's election returns was that both parties--and democracy itself--lost in two states where election reform was on the ballot.
In Ohio, 4 ballot initiatives offered a complete set of items to protect voters rights to vote, reduce the influence of the wealthy in elections, and take redistricting out of the hands of politicians. In California, voters were asked whether incumbent state legislators should be able to draw the lines of their own districts as well as those of the Congressional districts.
In both states the referenda failed. In Ohio, where Republicans control the state legislature and the Secretary of State's office, the Republicans opposed election reform. In California, where Democrats control the state legislature, Democrats opposed election reform.
Obviously, neither party wanted to give up their respective control of redistricting. If they had, they would have abdicated their power to draw districts that favor their party winning the majority of seats and that protect incumbents from any challengers. If your party in power, you might be happy with this arrangement in your state.
Because this process has resulted in a surprisingly low number of competitive races around the country, the losers are democracy and voters. Most voters do not live in districts where they can unseat an incumbent if they don't like him or her because the district is stacked against them. Voters lose their ability to hold their elected officials accountable and with that their power to affect change.
In 2008, there will be more referenda regarding election reform on the ballots across the country. Voters of both parties must be persuaded that this is not a partisan issue, but a democracy issue. The people of both parties win if democracy works.
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