From the Oregonian:

Right now, the state’s constitution requires the Legislature to reapportion state legislative districts based on population every 10 years. If the Legislature fails to enact a plan (as it has for several decades), the job goes to the secretary of state, another partisan office. Petition 50 would amend the constitution to require that redistricting be conducted by an appointed commission of retired judges instead. And the state Supreme Court, rather than the secretary of state, would be the default reapportionment team if the commission failed to complete its work.

The judges, appointed by the state’s chief justice, would prepare a preliminary plan, followed by public comment and hearings. The secretary of state’s office would lend technical assistance to the process as it does now. There would be no cost increase associated with the change. In fact, it would likely save money.

The petition has bipartisan support. Two Republicans and one Democrat are sponsors. Common Sense of Oregon, a conservative group, drew up the proposal. But Petition 50 is woefully short of the number of signatures it needs to make the fall ballot. That likely is more a result of campaign fatigue in a post-Measures 66 and 67 Oregon rather than any shortcoming of this good-governance initiative.

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