Abe Fortas

“ In considering whether the State has 'approximated' an equal division and allocation of the population, I sympathize with the majority's view that a de minimis rule of allowable disparities tends to demean in theory and in practice the constitutional objective because it suggests that it is not necessary even to aim at equality. ”

“ The Court now not only interprets 'as nearly as practicable' to mean that the State is required to 'make a good-faith effort to achieve precise mathematical equality,' but it also requires that any remaining population disparities 'no matter how small,' be justified. ”

“ Whatever might be the merits of insistence on absolute equality if it could be attained, the majority's pursuit of precision is a search for a will-o-'-the-wisp. The fact is that any solution to the apportionment and districting problem is at best an approximation because it is based upon figures which are always to some degree obsolete. ”