Voters should choose their politicians, not the other way around. Redistricting reform, including independent redistricting commissions, eliminates partisan gerrymandering and gives voters a stronger voice by taking party politics and special interests out of the map-drawing process.
When political parties draw their own state and congressional districts each decade, they can effectively choose their own voters. This allows the party in power to manipulate elections, all but guaranteeing the ultimate partisan outcome of an election before a single ballot has been cast. This problem has only gotten worse with more sophisticated data.
Number of states (both red and blue) that have laws that put them at extreme or high risk of rigged maps.
RepresentUsSince 1997, 42% of the decline in competitive districts is attributable to partisan gerrymandering.
Cook Political ReportNumber of eligible voters who live in districts that are safe for the political party they oppose.
FairVoteIndependent redistricting commissions replace state legislatures as the body responsible for redrawing district lines based on population changes each decade. While they vary state to state, in general their members are chosen in a way to diminish undue influence from any one party or branch of government, and they are legally bound to draw districts based on a defined set of criteria.
Establishes a transparent redistricting process that requires public input and support from Republicans, Democrats, and independents
Creates standards for how maps are drawn that eliminate partisan bias and foster competition and electoral accountability
Gives citizens more voice and keeps politicians, lobbyists, and associates from hijacking the mapmaking system
Creates representative districts that force politicians to work for all of their constituents if they want to be reelected
In 26 states, politicians are in total control of drawing maps. In 18 states, some kind of redistricting commission draws the maps. Find out who draws the maps in your state.
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