YET ANOTHER SAD NOTE IN DEMOCRACY

posted by Michael Chihak

Arizona Rep. Richard Miranda says he wants to see what others might describe as super majorities of Latino voters in at least theee Phoenix area legislative districts

Miranda is a Democrat from Tolleson who helps lead a coalition of minority groups trying to influence the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission's mapping work. He testified last week before the commission as it wraps up hearings aimed at helping it produce a first draft of redistricting maps.

Miranda said in an interview with Arizona Week that the U.S. Justice Department official who oversees application of the Voting Rights told him that minorities must have a chance to elect officials of their choice.

That means much more than a simple majority of the population, even of the voting-age popultion, Miranda implied. He said he wants the legislative district map to include three districts that have Latino populations of 68 percent to 69 percent. He said that's because Latinos turn out in much smaller numbers at the polls.

"Is there something to be said for just do better with voter turnout?" I asked him.

His response: "That's always the case. It's not only here, in Phoenix, it's throughout Arizona. ... It has always been an issue."

Maybe it's time to make it a non-issue by getting more Latinos, more non-Latinos, more Democrats, more Republicans, more of everyone who by birth or choice is a U.S. citizen out to vote.