Outlining the importance of fair redistricting
Fair redistricting is pivotal to a fair democracy.
Members of Congress and state legislators are elected by voters who are grouped into districts, but populations change. Some districts grow in population, others don’t. To account for the change in residents and demographic shifts, every ten years, district lines are redrawn in a process called “redistricting” following the completion of the United States Census.Because the 2020 Census data was recently released, redistricting is in full swing in 2021. Numerous states are holding redistricting meetings, and many are even open to hearing public testimony.
Why does fair redistricting matter?
Simply put, if the lines are drawn fairly, residents can elect those who truly represent them best. If the lines are manipulated, however, elected officials are untethered from the popular will of those they are supposed to represent. This political play leads to gerrymandering, and it can diffuse community power and leave constituents without adequate representation.
Gerrymandering is a form of voter suppression, and it is often surfaced when discussing unfair and partisan redistricting. As a result, gerrymandering denies power from the groups it intends to affect, diminishing their stronghold and the weight of their vote in any one area.
“Cracking” and “packing” are two terms commonly used when examining the process of gerrymandering. “Cracking” involves spreading out voters with a distinguished similarity, whether that be party, race, or economic bracket, in order to strip away the influence that their vote carries. This denies them a sufficiently large voting block in any district. “Packing” is concentrating many voters of the same type within one area to reduce their influence in other districts.
How does gerrymandering affect communities?
Ohio in 2011 is a perfect example of gerrymandering. Republican lawmakers and state-paid contractors worked for weeks in a secret hotel room, coined as “the bunker,” to gerrymander Ohio’s congressional districts. Their political maps were aimed at creating the safest seats for Republicans to win re-election, and it worked. For the past four election cycles, no seat has changed party hands — a 12-4 GOP majority.
“Redistricting is the true test of who is willing to fight for our democracy and who will only fight for their own political power.” - Georgia Youth Justice Coalition
In most states, those who are already in office get to draw the boundaries of their own districts. Oftentimes, these situations get taken advantage of by self-serving politicians who will overstep democracy for power. Because of partisan advances and subverted redistricting decisions, the outcomes tend to wholly benefit the elected officials themselves. As a result, the bills these said officials draft during their legislative sessions may not necessarily demonstrate the needs of the communities they represent. Other states, such as California, Colorado, and Michigan, have independent redistricting commissions, separate from their state legislatures. This aids in keeping those with underlying political motives separate from deciding the fate of the people.
No community deserves to be fractured, and no community deserves to endure any political, racial, or economic disadvantages due to unfair, unjust, and unrepresentative redistricting. Legislators need to feel responsible for the communities they represent, and in order to accurately hold them accountable, we must start with advocating for a more equitable redistricting process.
Our voices are the foundation of our democracy, but unfair redistricting inhibits our ability to use them. If partisanship infiltrates our system, our communities receive tainted representation. We deserve a seat at the table, and it is our responsibility to ensure transparency from our elected officials and independent commissions when drawing district lines.
Take Action
You have the power to make a difference! Here are SIX ways you can advocate for fair redistricting:
- ONE: As previously mentioned, many states across the country are holding public hearings to discuss redistricting. Check out if your state is holding public virtual or in-person hearings near you!
- TWO: Register for our upcoming prep session on Tuesday, July 27, at 5:30 PM ET, where we will help you prepare testimony to speak at redistricting public hearings.
- THREE: Email your representatives to voice your gerrymandering concerns.
- FOUR: Pick up the phone and call your representatives to tell them why you advocate for fair redistricting.
- FIVE: Use Facebook and Twitter to ask your friends and family to advocate for fair redistricting with you.
- SIX: Follow IGNITE on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates.
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