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Are You Thinking Rural Voters Have Extra Power?

By May 8, 2024No Comments

Think again.

“Political scientists refer to unequal representation in Congress as malapportionment.

“In its simplest form, equitable apportionment means that each congressional district should have roughly the same number of residents. In practice, the population size of congressional districts varies a bit because the Constitution says each state must have at least one representative, no matter its population. Apportionment must also account for fractional changes in population; you can’t assign half a representative to one district and 1.5 to another, even though that’s theoretically what is necessary to maintain perfect equity in apportionment.

“So the voter in the district with the smallest population has more power at the ballot box than the voter in the largest congressional district. With fewer voters, each vote has a greater theoretical chance of affecting the results.  …”

Sarah Melotte, Daily YonderAnalysis: The Myth of Rural Voters’ Power in the House of Representatives