| Political and legal experts will discuss electoral competition and redistricting April 25
The Center for the
Study of Politics and Governance (CSPG) and the University
of Minnesota Law School will co-host a program on "Restoring Electoral
Competition: Research and Remedies for Redistricting" from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, in Cowles Auditorium. The conference participants-to
include leading scholars of political science and law-will discuss redistricting
with a critical eye and offer ideas for reform.
"Our democracy relies on healthy competition to motivate government officials
to respond to voters," said CSPG director Lawrence Jacobs. "The reality
today is that more than nine out of 10 members of the U.S. House of Representatives
are persistently re-elected. Although redistricting is not the sole cause of
this non-competitive system, it is a significant factor and one of the few that
can be addressed by reform."
Panel discussions at the conference will address the electoral system's development
through the years, competition and voting rights, and new approaches to redistricting.
Featured speakers include Tom
Mann of the Brookings Institution and Sam
Hirsch, a lead attorney in the recent redistricting case in Texas.
The cost of the conference, including lunch, is $20. For more information on
the conference agenda and to register, visit CSPG online.
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