Network partners among diverse groups agreeing to redistricting principles
The League of Women Voters of the United States issued the news release below moments ago. Independent state-based Network partners signing on to the statement include: Citizen Advocacy Center, Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Michigan Campaign Finance Network, Ohio Citizen Action, TakeAction Minnesota, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The national chapters of the League of Women Voters and Common Cause also signed on to the statement—the Midwest Democracy Network includes state-based affiliates of both organizations in our five-state region. Policy research Network partner organization Brennan Center for Justice at NYU signed on to the statement, along with invidiual academic advisors who have been working with the Network on redistricting, including professors from George Mason University, the Ohio State University’s Election Law @ Moritz and Yale Law School.
Diverse Groups Agree to Redistricting Principles
League Convenes Reform Community Leaders, Activists at Pocantico Redistricting Conference
WASHINGTON, DC – The League of Women Voters today issued a Statement of Essential Principles on Redistricting supported by a diverse set of reform community leaders and activists, many of whom gathered at the Pocantico Redistricting Conference late last month. The League, in partnership with the Campaign Legal Center, convened this meeting to explore ways that the public can best participate in the redistricting process in 2011 and beyond.
“We are very pleased that such a diverse coalition of groups and individuals who have long been interested in and concerned about redistricting, have signed in support of these essential principles,” said Mary G. Wilson, national President of the League of Women Voters. “The enunciation of these principles by the voices we brought together at the conference provides a big step forward as we move toward 2011.”
“Historically, transparency has been absent in the process used by officials to design and carry out redistricting in the states,” Wilson noted. “Too often those in charge have simply gathered in back rooms, away from public view, to carryout this extremely important process in our democracy. Members of the public must be able to see and participate in this process. Redistricting should foster the democratic principle of allowing voters to choose their elected officials rather than be a process in which we allow our elected officials to ‘choose their constituents.’ Today’s announcement of four essential principles demonstrates the commitment of our groups to assuring representative government to all,” said Wilson.
The principles are:
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An accurate and complete count in Census 2010 is an essential building block for all redistricting efforts;
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The process used for redistricting must be transparent to the public;
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The redistricting process, at all levels of government, must provide data, tools and opportunities for the public to have direct input into the specific plans under consideration by the redistricting body; and
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In order to achieve representative democracy, redistricting plans must be drawn in a manner that allows elected bodies to reflect the diversity of the populace, especially racial and ethnic diversity.
To read the full statement and list of supporters, click here. To read the news release, click here.
“Our work on redistricting has already begun with projects to encourage an accurate and complete Census 2010. And the League will continue to work to form important partnerships, strategies and messaging that can have real impact on the redistricting efforts in individual states,” concluded Wilson.
Download the news release or the statement.
Redistricting Resources
From the Midwest Democracy Network:
A Citizen’s Guide to Redistricting
July 29, 2009: Illinois lawmakers hold hearing on redistricting
June 18, 2009: Ohio redistricting competition results announced
March 16, 2009: Redistricting bill sparks action by Minnesota reform coalition
More resources:
Americans for Redistricting Reform
Brennan Center for Justice - ”Redistricting”
FairVote - “Redistricting Reform Watch”
George Mason University, United States Election Project - “Redistricting”
League of Women Voters of the United States - “Redistricting Reform”
USC Annenberg Center - “The Redistricting Game”
