August 24, 2021

On Thursday August 12, the Census Bureau released the detailed data states will use to develop district maps.  Dave’s Redistricting App 2020 (DRA2020) has already been updated with the 2020 Census data.  Before the 2020 Census data was released, I used DRA2020 and the data available at the time to anticipate possible changes to Connecticut district maps (see Part 4: Math and Maps).  It is now possible to use DRA2020 to assess actual population changes and their impact on Connecticut district maps. League members and friends are welcome to contact me at redistricting [at] lwvct.org for a walkthrough of DRA2020. Those who look at DRA2020 will see that the anticipated changes in Connecticut district populations were largely met. 

I wrote this blog series to help increase LWV members’ and friends’ knowledge about Redistricting so that we may all participate in raising public awareness about the Redistricting process.  I know that this work has certainly increased my own knowledge and I hope it has yours as well. 

If you missed any of the previous posts, you can find them on the main redistricting page.

LWVCT People Powered Fair Maps 

Joan Twiggs

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Messaging

This final blog will focus on messaging.  Indeed, post-Census data release messaging has already begun.  On August 12, we joined with leagues across Connecticut and the country to participate in the “Tweetstorm” to raise awareness of Redistricting, reaching over 5 million people! 

CT Process: A Brief Review

News media report that the Reapportionment Committee plans to hold public hearings after Labor Day, from about September 2-September 15.  September 15 is also the date by which Committee-drawn maps must have been approved by a 2/3 Supermajority of the General Assembly. Should this milestone not be achieved, the Redistricting task is taken up by a bipartisan nine-member Commission appointed by the Governor (generally the eight legislators and one voter).  If by November 30, the Commission has not approved a map plan by a simple majority (5) of the Commission, the CT Supreme Court compels the Commission to approve a plan or takes over the task itself.  A plan must be in place by February 15, 2022. To see who is on the committee visit the Connecticut General Assembly's 2021 Redistricting Project page.

Map Evaluation Resources

Assessment of the Gerrymander threat in Connecticut

• 2021 Gerrymandering Threat Index - The group RepresentUs, assesses CT as being at a high level of threat for partisan gerrymandering.  This is largely as a result of “middling transparency requirements”  - one of the LWV’s key messages about areas for improvement! 

• Redistricting Report Card created by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project. As of early August, most states, including Connecticut, had not yet been analyzed – keep returning to the link for updates. 

How Can I Improve the Process?

Contact Legislators

The following are some ideas for key messages/questions you can pose to the Redistricting Committee and to your own legislators.  Needless to say, they should be tailored to your own voice and circumstances.  If you are aware of specific issues and concerns in your community be sure to include those concerns. 

Spread the Word

In addition to legislative activism please also help spread the work through social media,  news media, connections with other community activists and other resources.  When doing this work draw on the Redistricting Summer Series blogs (feel free to “steal shamelessly”) as well as the snapshot social media messages LWVCT has published (copied below).  

Get the Facts

Don’t forget to refresh your understanding of the League Position:  Redistricting is best done by an independent commission with membership that reflects the diversity of the affected units of government.  See the entire position in Impact on Issues (p.21)

Questions for Legislators that Deserve Answers

Process-related questions for legislators

• Many states have robust websites that educate the public about Redistricting generally and this cycle particularly.  Why has Connecticut not invested in curating and presenting information in a more user friendly, comprehensive and accessible manner?
  • Two examples:
    1. California Independent Commission

    2. Oregon Legislative committee

• What conversations have been underway among legislators in advance of the public hearings?  What summaries of these conversations are available to the public? Why have there been no meetings of the Reapportionment Committee since the organizing meeting?  In other states, public meetings were held in advance of the release of data. 

  • The public should be aware of and understand any issues and concerns about their districts that are being discussed with the current district representatives. 

• The League believes that Redistricting should be undertaken by Independent Non-partisan  Redistricting Commissions.  A tradition of bi-partisanship such as we have here in Connecticut does not go far enough to ensure that the fairest maps possible will be established.  This would require a state constitutional amendment.  Do you support such an amendment?

• The General Assembly could establish much better transparency requirements.  The group RepresentUs assesses the threat of partisan gerrymandering in CT as “High” largely because of the absence of robust transparency measures.  The CT Constitution is silent on transparency and public input but that could be remedied by legislative action to wrap such provisions around the current Constitutional provisions for Redistricting.  Would you introduce legislation to create greater Redistricting transparency? 

Content-related questions for legislators

• What population changes have occurred since the last Census?  What kinds of changes have occurred?  Among what groups and in what geographic locations do we see growth and decline in population?  What are the implications for district maps at all levels?

• State legislative districts must be within 10% of the ideal population average.  Some districts exceed the ideal while some are below the ideal.  Ask the Reapportionment Committee and your state reps:  How do you decide which districts will be above and which will be lower than the ideal population?  [Use DRA 2020 to find out the population status of your Congressional, State Senate and State House districts]

• The Connecticut legislature made a positive change when it ended prison gerrymandering – the attribution of incarcerated persons to the town where the facility is located rather than the home community.  What impacts do you see for Redistricting? 

• In addition to the required federal and state criteria, what criteria do you use for creating district maps at all levels?  How do you balance criteria that may be in contention? 

• Add don’t forget to add your own local knowledge of your communities and districts.

Additional messaging from the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS)

• Despite delays, it is imperative that maps are drawn with full public participation. We encourage everyone to elevate their voices by attending public hearings around the map-drawing process.

• Our League will be holding (tag legislators/committee members) accountable for drawing fair and equitable maps that truly reflect our communities by (expand on the work your League is doing)  

• Maps drawn this year will determine how we are represented for the next ten years. It is imperative that we get involved now to ensure that we have representatives who serve the interests of our communities rather than themselves.  Constituents should choose their legislators rather than legislators choosing their constituents. 

League of Women Voters of Connecticut (LWVCT) Social Media messaging

• The ten-year Redistricting cycle is underway.  Redistricting is the process by which new boundaries for representational districts are drawn to determine how communities are represented. These districts are redrawn every 10 years based on census data.  The League of Women Voters of CT has developed a 5 part Summer Series to help you understand the ins-and-outs of Redistricting.  This is part of the LWVUS People Powered Fair Maps™ campaign.

• Redistricting is how we make sure our voices are represented equally by creating districts that  are equal in population. To create districts of equal population, we use Census data. 

• When it comes to Redistricting, the League supports increased public input, accountability, and transparent processes. The redistricting process varies from state to state. Some states have independent redistricting commissions that draw maps, while others have their maps drawn by politicians and legislators, and others fall in between. Connecticut’s process begins with a bipartisan committee in the  General Assembly.  Read more about the Connecticut process and its outcomes in Part 2 of the Redistricting Summer Series.

• Redistricting determines who appears on your ballot, where you vote, and it can influence whether your elected officials respond to your needs. What criteria are used to make these decisions? Read more in Part 3 of the Redistricting Summer Series.

• 2021 is a particularly critical year for redistricting. In 2013,the Supreme Court decision Shelby County v. Holder took away the requirement for states to get their changes to voting processes, such as the redistricting process, cleared by the Department of Justice. This means 2021 will be the first year of redistricting without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). Learn more about how the Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore the protections of the VRA.  #FairMapsForAll

• The LWV believes voters should choose their legislators rather than legislators choosing their voters.  The League of Women Voters supports Independent Non-partisan Redistricting Commissions inclusive of comprehensive and robust methods of citizen involvement. #FairMapsForAll

• How maps are drawn varies from state to state, but one thing remains the same – when maps are drawn with the public input, we protect the interests of our communities, not politicians! #FairMapsForAll https://bit.ly/3fEuDc9

• Census data needed to draw maps has been released (8/12/21)! This impacts how your community is represented. Get involved!  Contact the League of Women Voters of CT.  Email redistricting [at] lwvct.org. #FairMapsForAll https://bit.ly/3fEuDc9

• Partisan gerrymandering is when districts are drawn in a way to give an unfair advantage to one political party, group, or incumbent. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled to allow states to make their own determinations about partisan gerrymandering practices. Learn more about partisan gerrymandering in CT.  Read Part 4 of the Redistricting Summer Series.
  

• Would an independent non-partisan approach yield different District maps in CT?  We don’t know.  We do know however that in the 2020 election cycle 30 House members and 4 Senators ran unopposed by a candidate of a major party. Read more Part 4 of the Redistricting Summer Series.

Action you can take: 

And so, Dear Reader, we come to the end of the Redistricting Summer Series!  Be on the lookout for a document that lists all the resources I have used in this series. 

 Visit the LWVCT People Powered Fair Maps Page