By Gerald Shields
Published August 8th 2005 in The Louisiana Advocate
Louisiana's congressional elections are among the least democratic in
the nation, according to a recent report on competitiveness issued by
FairVote -- The Center for Voting and Democracy.
The report, "Dubious Democracy 2005," provides a review of competition in U.S. House elections in all 50 states from 1982 through 2004. Louisiana ranked 46th out of 50 states in the report's democracy index. The state's low ranking was attributed to two factors.
Louisiana has a "sky-high" incumbency rate. All four House incumbents who ran in 2004 won by landslide margins. Only one incumbent has been defeated in Louisiana since 1982.
Anemic voter turnout also contributed to the state's low ranking. In 2004, Louisiana had the lowest voter turnout in the nation in House races at 39 percent. The entire report can be viewed at http://www.fairvote.org/dubdem.
The report, "Dubious Democracy 2005," provides a review of competition in U.S. House elections in all 50 states from 1982 through 2004. Louisiana ranked 46th out of 50 states in the report's democracy index. The state's low ranking was attributed to two factors.
Louisiana has a "sky-high" incumbency rate. All four House incumbents who ran in 2004 won by landslide margins. Only one incumbent has been defeated in Louisiana since 1982.
Anemic voter turnout also contributed to the state's low ranking. In 2004, Louisiana had the lowest voter turnout in the nation in House races at 39 percent. The entire report can be viewed at http://www.fairvote.org/dubdem.