Editor, Gazette-Journal

Your Jan. 24 editorial, “Let them hear from you,” noted that it is important for legislators “to do the will of the people who elected them.”

Unfortunately, members of the General Assembly currently can pick their voters, rather than the other way around. Every 10 years, the party in power gets to draw maps to maximize the seats it controls.

Both parties have engaged in gerrymandering to solidify their majorities. The result is districts that are so “safe” for incumbents that they don’t have to listen to their constituents’ views because their reelection is assured.

The General Assembly is considering several constitutional amendments that would turn this responsibility over to an independent commission. Supporters want to ensure that the process is open to public scrutiny and prohibits drawing lines to favor parties or individuals. Districts would instead be drawn with an eye to preserving communities of inter...