Do you live in the 7th? You don't have a representative in Congress

Here's the bottom line on the mess that surrounds the special election to fill the 7th District Congress seat being vacated by former U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan.

There are a lot of problems connected with a special election.

For starters, we're spending all this money for a person who will sit in that seat for just two months. OK, I realize it's very likely that one of the winners of the May 15 Primary is likely to win the special election as well, but it is not a guarantee.

Then there is the confusion surrounding holding two elections that cover two different geographical areas.

But all of them pale next to this:

For the next six months and change, a big chunk of Delaware County and the region effectively will not have a representative in Congress.

I know, you're wondering how we could tell the difference?

But that's not the way the system is supposed to work.

While we have spent the last couple of months arguing about how exactly to draw the Congressional maps to ensure voters have effective representation, I'm not sure anyone realized we would spend half a year without any representation at all.

People should be livid.

And at least one reader is.

Read our editorial on the issue here.