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Game of Chance: Senators Rely On Random System for Extra Time Due To Redistricting

Legislative staff "gamble" on Senate districts, by awarding numbers using the lottery system. 2011
The FLorida Channel
Legislative staff "gamble" on Senate districts, by awarding numbers using the lottery system. 2011
Legislative staff "gamble" on Senate districts, by awarding numbers using the lottery system. 2011
Credit The FLorida Channel
Legislative staff "gamble" on Senate districts, by awarding numbers using the lottery system. 2011

Florida Senate staff are using a random computer system to decide which Senators will have to run for re-election next year or get more time to stay in office. As the Senate works to redraw its map, the issue of numbering districts is getting tricky.

When the Florida Senate redrew district lines four years ago, they used lotto balls—which led to some accusations of gambling. This time, under a randomized computer system, 20 senators could get an extra few years in office. The process is part of the state’s ongoing redistricting process. The current session is focused on the Senate, which admitted in court documents, that it violated the state’s anti-gerrymandering constitutional amendment four years ago.

The proposal before Senators could merge three South Florida Senators into one district and force them to run against each other, while creating a new district that could favor Democrats.

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Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas. She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. When she’s not working, Lynn spends her time watching sci-fi and action movies, writing her own books, going on long walks through the woods, traveling and exploring antique stores. Follow Lynn Hatter on Twitter: @HatterLynn.
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