Dear editor,
The new Congress has convened this month, and the first piece of legislation the new majority will introduce is a sweeping democracy reform agenda. This critical bill, known currently as HR1, For The People Act, will improve American government by modernizing our elections and curbing the influence of big money in political campaigns.
The legislation includes a variety of improvements and necessary measures to fix problems with our elections: expanding Automatic Voter Registration, ensuring fair redistricting processes by ending partisan gerrymandering, outlawing voter purging, restoring the Voting Rights Act, and more.
On Jan. 4, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments in a challenge to North Carolina’s 2016 congressional redistricting plan, which is one of the most blatant partisan gerrymanders in American history. The case has the potential to reshape future redistricting nationwide by limiting politicians’ ability to suppress the voices of voters in how they draw electoral districts. Oral arguments will be held later this term.
“For far too long, politicians in North Carolina have gamed the system to keep control,” said Chris Carson, president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “It is time we put the power back in the hands of the voters to determine the direction of their state. District lines must be drawn in a way that reflects our communities. Only through independent, citizen-led redistricting can we truly create fair maps.”
A recent news release on the LWVUS site notes that if the Supreme Court confirms the lower court’s ruling that the state’s maps are unconstitutional, this victory could curtail the undemocratic practice of partisan gerrymandering nationwide! Last term, the Supreme Court heard the case of Gill v. Whitford, a challenge to Wisconsin’s gerrymandered Assembly maps. The Supreme Court’s decision in that case triggered the return of a host of other cases across the country to district courts, with instructions for additional review. With that guidance, the district court ruled that North Carolina’s map is clearly a partisan gerrymander, and thus unconstitutional.
With the 2020 Census approaching, a fair mapping process could guide the next round of redistricting and ensure district lines are drawn in a manner that reflects voting populations, not the politicians in power.
With the case now set to be decided this term, voters move closer to fair and legal maps drawn for the 2020 elections. Justices have the opportunity to ensure fair maps nationwide!
LWVUS is asking all of our members and supporters visit the website www.ofa.us and to call their Representative and ask them to vote Yes for HR1. People in District 1 can call Rep. Dr. Roger Marshall at 202-225-2715. His staff will answer. Tell them your name that you are a voter in their district and why you are calling.
A future public forum letter will provide a justification for outlawing voter purging.
Janice Walker
Great Bend
LWV member
Rebecca Dudrey
Great Bend
President LWV
