Connecticut | May 10, 2021
CT Senate Adds Prisoners For Gerrymandering
Connecticut | May 10, 2021
The state Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to end the long-standing practice of so-called prison gerrymandering that currently allows prison towns like Enfield and Somers to have higher populations by including inmates and therefore greater representation in the General Assembly.
For years, the prisoners have been counted for population purposes where they were incarcerated at the moment — rather than in their last known residential address, such as in Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury or New Britain. About half of all inmates in Connecticut previously lived in those five cities, lawmakers said.
After more than two hours of debate, the Senate voted 35-1 to approve the bill with one Republican against the measure.
The issue is timely because new U.S. Census counts were recently released, and officials will be redrawing state legislative districts that will then be locked in place for 10 years until the next census. The state legislative seats are based on population. Connecticut currently has fewer than 9,000 inmates, compared to a record high of more than 20,000 in 2008.
From MSN.com