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Now that the Supreme Court has run away from partisan gerrymandering, it’s time to fight on a state-by-state basis. Here’s a long list of actions for individual states. I’ll add to it as more ideas come up. First, the categories of actions you can take:
1) Ballot-initiative process: push for independent commissions. 2) Friendly state courts: file lawsuits. 3) Public-comment period on redistricting: use it in 2021 to speak for your community of interest. Use data to analyze/offer maps. 4) Everywhere: write your paper.
5) Disrupt single-party control by flipping a legislature or breaking its supermajority. 6) Support local reformers: Common Cause, League of Women Voters, or local organizations. 7) Everywhere: help gather data & become a redistricting tech maven! http://OpenPrecincts.org
Now, to individual states. This list will grow over time. (Let's see if I can manage the growing thread.) I will start with some places where the hard work of reform has already gotten pretty far. Examples:http://gerrymander.princeton.edu/reforms/
AZ/CA/CO/MI/OH/UT: Redistricting in the hands of an independent commission. ACTION: Weigh in on the process. Sign up for a chance to be on the commission. Tell commissioners about your community. In 2021, use data & software to analyze draft maps & keep commissioners informed.
NC: Governor has no say. General Assembly could keep itself in power indefinitely. ACTIONS: - Support Common Cause in their lawsuit v. Lewis: http://redistricting.lls.edu/cases-NC.php#NClegII … - Write your local paper. - Run for legislature. Breaking the supermajority can restore some balance of power.
VA: has split-party control (GOP legislature, Dem governor) over the process. Could go all-Democratic by 2021, a partisan risk. If a constitutional amendment passes in 2019-20 legislative session, an independent commission would go on the ballot. ACTION: support OneVirginia2021.
OHIO: has a commission process! But disputes will be decided by the state Supreme Court, which is conservative-dominated (and thus not sympathetic to voting rights). ACTION: Partisan balance can be achieved via two judicial elections in 2020. These are key elections.
AR: now has single-party (R) control of districting. A constitutional amendment could replace process with commission. There are two proposals. One is partisan, one is not. ACTION: Support the better initiative, by David Couch. https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2018/10/26/attorney-general-approves-proposal-for-independent-redistricting-commission …https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2019/02/28/dueling-redistricting-proposals-in-the-mill-for-2020-one-heavily-gop-flavored …
(An aside: I'm listing reforms without regard to party. In other words, I'm treating single-party control as a potential risk in either direction. Republicans commit gerrymanders much more often, so you'll see them more. But Democrats can be culprits too.)
MO: Nonpartisan demographer drafts map, to be approved by legislature. Disputes go to high court, favorable to voting rights. ACTIONS: - Write your local paper & advocate. - Support further ballot initiatives! - 2021: Data geeks, prepare for public comment w/maps and analysis.
KANSAS: The GOP-dominated legislature currently has enough votes to override the Democratic governor’s veto on a redistricting plan. A change of two seats in House or Senate will change that. ACTION: Support good-government candidates in 2020 state elections. Or run for office!
LOUISIANA: To maintain split-party control over redistricting, re-elect Democratic governor John Bel Edwards in 2019.
MARYLAND: Thanks to GOP governor Larry Hogan, redistricting is under split-party control. The danger of a repeat of the current Congressional gerrymander (drawn by Democrats) is low.
MISSISSIPPI, NEBRASKA, AND OKLAHOMA: These states have a ballot-initiative process. All have single-party (R) control over districting (NE legislature is nominally nonpartisan). ACTION: Support ballot initiatives to establish an independent redistricting process.
OREGON: Similar to MS/NE/OK, but controlled by Democrats. Another state where partisan self-dealing can be stopped using the initiative process. By the way, here's a list of all the states with an initiative or referendum process. A few dozen of them: http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/chart-of-the-initiative-states.aspx …
WISCONSIN: some of the most extreme partisan gerrymanders in the US. Split-party control over redistricting is possible in 2021 because of Governor Evers (D), *if* supermajorities do not form. ACTION: Support good-gov't candidates in the 2020 election, prevent supermajorities.
NEW JERSEY: a commission state. A backwards step was stopped by citizens+analysts (including us at Princeton). ACTION: There's a data-transparency bill (A. 4564) to give everyone data to drive reform. Call your state Senator, ask for it to pass this week!https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/assembly-approves-zwicker-voting-precinct-transparency-act/ …
PENNSYLVANIA: partially solved. The state Supreme Court undid a GOP gerrymander. In 2021, both Congressional and legislative lines will be under split-party control. ACTIONS: - Advocate for adding initiative process. - Use data to weigh in with state-leg. commission in 2021.
Okay, that's all I have for the moment. This was off the top of my head. This thread will be updated in coming days and weeks by deleting this tweet and appending the list. /end (for now)
(adding to thread to avoid orphaning replies) GEORGIA: A tough case. Secure single-party control, no initiative process, unfriendly state court. ACTIONS: - Public input into redistricting. Use data and apps! http://redistricting.lls.edu/states-GA.php#input … - After 2021, undo racial gerrymanders.
MASS.: Single-party control and an all-D Congressional delegation. But @MGGG reports that drawing a GOP district is impossible.
ACTION: Communities of interest should be represented in legislative districts! In public comment, use data & maps to advocate! http://redistricting.lls.edu/states-MA.php#input …
...let's take a break to make an important point. Today's enormous public energy can be amped up by technology. Communities of interest can advocate for themselves. Data mavens can diagnose proposed maps and draw their own. This is going to need Big Data!https://www.wired.com/story/big-data-supercharged-gerrymandering-supreme-court/ …
TX: Similar to GA - single-party redistricting with racial issues (Hispanics). Oddly, racial prejudice moderates partisan gerrymandering because TX Hispanics vote for both parties. ACTIONS: -Public input using data -Racial gerrymandering federal lawsuitshttps://twitter.com/SamWangPhD/status/1145003740421922818 …
An aside: The Census citizenship Q could be used to draw districts of equal number of citizens, rather than equal population. Texas is where this would happen. It would shift a few seats toward GOP. On the flip side Texas might lose a seat to MT or OH! https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/06/19/us/ap-us-census-citizenship-question.html …
SC/LA/FL/AL/VA are the other four states where racially-based gerrymanders might be committed.
ACTIONS:
- Get the data & draw maps showing how to get fair opportunity-to-elect districts. Then publish! @PoliticsWolf has maps too.
- Racial gerrymandering lawsuits after 2021.
ALASKA, IDAHO, MONTANA, AND WASHINGTON. The remaining 4 states with independent redistricting commissions. ACTION: Get the data (it will be available from http://OpenPrecincts.org ), draw maps (Dave's Redistricting, a free tool), and offer public comment.https://twitter.com/SamWangPhD/status/1144799612542300160 …
AL/ID/IL/ME/MS/ND/OK/OR/SD/WY have single-party control - and have an initiative process. None set off the Princeton Gerrymandering Project's alarms for gerrymandering (some have only one representative), but state legislators may have safe districts. ACTION: ballot initiative.
The success of IOWA's process depends on courtesy. Civil servants, guided by a bipartisan committee, draft up to three maps, which the legislature can accept or modify. ACTION: Use public input to maintain integrity. Use open data & software to weigh in! http://redistricting.lls.edu/states-IA.php
NEW HAMPSHIRE has split partisan control. All seats in both chambers are up in 2020. A redistricting-commission bill has passed the legislature! ACTION: Contact Governor Sununu, urge him to sign HB 706. https://www.nhpr.org/post/bill-create-independent-redistricting-commission-nh-gets-bipartisan-boost#stream/0 … http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billText.aspx?id=194 …https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB706/2019 …
NEW YORK had contentious redistricting in the past. For 2021, an advisory commission will make recommendations. ACTION: - Stand up for your community of interest at public hearings. - Write to your paper in support of the advisory commission. - Make noise!https://www.gothamgazette.com/state/8445-new-york-s-new-untested-redistricting-process-set-to-unfold-after-2020-census …
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