By Bob Katzen

The Election Laws Committee held a hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a non-legislative redistricting commission to replace the current commission made up exclusively of state legislators. The commission, like the current commission, would be responsible for creating congressional districts, 160 representative districts, 40 senatorial districts and eight councilor districts every ten years based on the national census.

The proposed commission would include a dean or professor of law, political science or government from a Massachusetts college, appointed by the governor; a retired judge, appointed by the attorney general; and an expert in civil rights law, appointed by the secretary of state. The other four members would be chosen by the above three members from a list of candidates nominated by the House Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senate President and Senate Minority Leader.

Supporters of the proposed commission say the Legislature has abused its redistricting power and often gerrymandered districts to protect incumbents. They said this antiquated, partisan system allows the majority party to control the process and permits “legislators to choose their voters.” They noted that the idea of an independent commission has been endorsed in the past by the League of Women Voters, Common Cause and former Govs. Michael Dukakis, Mitt Romney and Deval Patrick.

“The measure strengthens transparency and objectivity in the redistricting process by prohibiting recent elected officials from serving and by including public comment periods and reporting requirements,” says amendment sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough). “By adopting best practices already used in other states, this reform ensures that Massachusetts moves toward a fairer and nonpartisan redistricting process.”

Opponents of the commission say elected members of the Legislature, who are accountable to the voters, should be responsible for the important job of redistricting. They said the task should not be undertaken by an appointed commission with unknown members who would not have direct accountability. They cited studies showing that these so-called “independent” redistricting commissions are no more or less independent than commissions established by Legislatures.