On to 2022.

The League of Women Voters has put out a lengthy statement this afternoon decrying what they see as yet another gerrymandered set of maps designed to keep incumbents safe. Now, we’re all looking toward the future, when the next round of redistricting takes place for the 2020 Census in time for the 2022 elections.

“The League will work with the governor and the Legislature to realize lasting structural reform to this fundamentally flawed redistricting process,” the group said. “The certainty of achieving reform for 2022 is critical.”

The good-government groups are clearly heartened that Cuomo continues to keep his veto threat.

But despite all of Thursday’s teeth gnashing, the maps proposed for the Assembly and Senate are not the final product. Far from it.

There’s still a series of public hearings, the first of which begins on Monday here in Albany. There are also still 57 days left in the legislative session and a governor whose mantra in deal making could easily be “everybody wins.”

Andrew Cuomo himself said earlier this morning that he wants not just a “better process” for 2012 but a lasting solution beyond this year.

It’s easy to envision a scenario in which everyone continues to play their part of public condemnation and retreating for a month or so. Then lawmakers and Cuomo agree on a compromise for this year’s round of redistricting that includes the approval of an amendment to the state Constitution.

A Constitutional amendment needs to pass two different sessions of the Legislature, then it goes to the voters (which would ostensibly be voted on in 2014).

Share|