Scholars push Congress to adopt proportional representation to curb gerrymandering

In an open letter addressed to Congress, five hundred top experts on democracy, voting rights and election law called for a shift to proportional representation to end the cycle of partisan redistricting battles. They contend that the existing single-member district model, unchanged since 1842, has been weaponized by both Republican- and Democratic-controlled states to redraw maps for partisan advantage, even eliminating majority-Black districts in places like Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee.

The scholars propose replacing the 435 single-member districts with fewer, larger districts that elect multiple representatives based on each party’s share of the vote, thereby giving numerical minorities a realistic chance to win seats. Stanford professor Pamela Karlan, a signatory, warned that the Supreme Court’s permissive stance on partisan gerrymandering and the erosion of the Voting Rights Act have turned elections into a process where politicians choose voters rather than the reverse.

She noted that while a proportional system would not automatically create gridlock, it could encourage broader voter satisfaction and reduce disenchantment with the political process. The group acknowledges that immediate change is unlikely without a grassroots movement, but stresses that reform is essential to restore faith in democratic institutions.