The legislative districts in St. Lawrence County average 7,462 residents in size. District 2 (Ogdensburg) counts 2,074 prisoners in two state prisons as "residents"; District 5 (Gouverneur) includes 1,046 prisoners. None of the prisoners are allowed to vote, and few, if any, are from St. Lawrence County. The votes of 5,639 county residents in District No. 2 have been given the same weight as 7,462 residents in other districts. This is the same as pretending that the votes of 8 people are equal to the votes of 10. Is the principle of "one person one vote" violated when 8 votes are considered equal to 10? See: Prisoners distort democracy in St. Lawrence County
Data source: St. Lawrence Legislature and U.S. Census 2000. (Peter Wagner, 2004)