Little evokes as much selfish passion on the part of New York politicians as the prospect of tinkering with legislative redistricting. For most elected officials, the process of drawing their own lines for the various congressional, state Senate and Assembly districts across the state of New York represents the centerpiece of their political fortunes. It is the Super Bowl of party politics in New York, and for many elected officials, the mere thought of leaving that work to an independent authority is utterly repugnant.

Every 10 years, after census data has been collected and, by law, the district lines have to be redrawn, there is a tension-filled dance between Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Albany, who do everything in their might to ensure that they gain an edge when it comes to determining who gets to vote for them. For all practical purposes, they draw their lines with an eye toward protecting their ability to get re-elected.

Let's face it, it would be far easier for any of us to win a political office if we could have a say in which people get to cast their votes. It's a bit like competing on "American Idol," with the ability to target who gets to call in and vote.

In his campaign for governor last year, Andrew M. Cuomo made the establishment of an independent redistricting commission one of his bedrock issues. If anything, he has been even firmer on the issue since he came to office.

Cuomo is absolutely correct to want to put an end to the horrendous practice under which lines are carved in a series of backroom bargaining sessions between incumbent political leaders eager to enhance their representational muscle. Cuomo has reiterated that he will veto any redistricting plan that is structured through this atrocious yet time-honored method. Cuomo and state Sen. Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat, have championed different versions of the idea of political lines being redrawn by an independent panel.

The stumbling block here, as in most issues related to progressive politics and reform, is the Republican-controlled state Senate. They are having no part of it. When asked why, they simply respond by accusing Democrats of hypocrisy. The Democrats, Republican officials argued, did nothing to pass legislation for independent redistricting when they were in control of the Senate. As far as lame excuses go, this one is a humdinger.

Ultimately, the stars are aligned against the Republicans on this one. For one thing, independent redistricting makes common sense, and it is an idea endorsed by every good government group and reform-minded association in the state. Plus, the demographic shifts are working against the Grand Old Party. While New York City's Democratic leaning, immigrant-driven population is growing, the Republican bastions upstate are losing residents.

So, for Republicans to continue to have districts with voters sympathetic to their party, it will require even more egregious gerrymandering to a degree that makes New York's lines look even more like some weird, futuristic painting.

In the meantime, there is a need for action. The Republicans in the Senate need to be sufficiently committed to democracy to go along with some form of the proposal. In the current system, even with federal protection for districts that are largely minority, the so-called "voting rights districts," African-American and Latino communities are nonetheless vulnerable to the effects of gerrymandering.

Because they tend to vote overwhelmingly Democratic, communities of color are often chopped up by Republicans to dilute their voting strength, lopping them into districts with more conservative, Republican voters. That's largely the reason why there is no black state senator from Long Island. (An example of this preposterous system can be found in Hempstead, a largely black town on the island, which is divided into four separate Senate districts.)

Because neither the Senate Republicans nor the governor are likely to budge, a Cuomo veto could throw the matter into the hands of a court-appointed special master, a prospect that is far from ideal and one that should be avoided at all costs.

The opportunity to change the process and to create a fairer method of carving district lines comes to the forefront only once in a decade. It's critical that the Republicans in the Senate put aside their selfishness and embrace the idea that provides New Yorkers with the kind of democracy they deserve.