The ballot proposition getting the most attention is Proposal 1, which amends the state constitution in relation to drawing state and federal district lines.

Approved in 2014 by voters in a statewide referendum, the Independent Redistricting Commission is just now working to begin drafting legislative district boundaries for 2022. Among changes proposed by Democrats are allowing the commission’s co-executive directors to come from the same party and reducing approval requirements to allow a dominant party to overrule the commission’s work more easily. Also, a smaller legislative majority (60% legislative approval as opposed to the current two-thirds majority) would be able to dismiss the Independent Redistricting Commission’s maps and draw its own lines if Proposition 1 is adopted.

Lastly, the change to count prison inmates in the districts where they lived as opposed to where they live while serving prison sentences, has drawn the ire of Republicans. It is actuallly one of the few changes that makes some common sense even though it hurts rural New Yorkers by giving even more clout to New York City.

In our view, the 2014 compromise between Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans struck a balance between the two parties that resulted in a modicum of fairness when drawing legislative districts. The 2014 compromise, if allowed to stand, provides a momentary speed bump before a plan is imposed on Republicans. Democrats want to remove that speed bump.

Our system of checks and balances exists for a reason, and in our view voters should uphold them here. Vote no on Proposition 1.