Earlier this month, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon introduced HJR 4209 to allow mid-cycle redistricting in Washington. But on Jan. 21, the West Seattle Democrat said during a House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee hearing that his real hope is for something a little different. 

“What I wish I was here advocating for was a 50-state nonpartisan redistricting process. Not bipartisan. Not single-party. But to have all states draw their congressional districts in an impartial way without an eye towards partisan advantage.”

The League of Women Voters of Washington agrees.

The League believes that mid-cycle redistricting can all too easily be used to disenfranchise voters based on race or party affiliation. We are in uncharted territory today as an authoritarian administration in Washington, D.C., exploits racial division and seeks to silence voters. This is dangerous.

We appreciate the national focus that has brought to redistricting, as it is a cornerstone of representative democracy. When done equitably and responsibly, it ensures every person’s voice carries equal weight. Done improperly, it silences those voices and magnifies inequities.

The League has defined core standards for responsible redistricting that protect voters and communities. Responsible redistricting:

● Is transparent and accountable.

● Protects historically disenfranchised communities.

● Preserves communities of interest and respects existing municipal and county boundaries.

● Increases accountability measures, such as ranked criteria.

● Promotes partisan fairness.

Washington’s current Redistricting Commission does not meet these criteria. The process is outdated and in need of reform. While independent of the Legislature, our current model is not independent of partisan influence. The League supports a redistricting model that has been proven to improve representation and emphasize nonpartisanship. We support a model that is committed to transparency, accountability, access and citizen engagement.

We refer to this as “People First Redistricting.” Based on effective models in other states, this would increase the size of the commission to include representatives of major parties and independent voices. This model minimizes partisan influence and requires full and true transparency in map-drawing and deliberation.

Rather than engage in partisan manipulation, we urge the Legislature to reform our process by creating a model that increases representation, improves trust in government and nurtures civic participation. This will help ensure a government that is responsive and accountable to the people.

We encourage the Legislature to listen to Rep. Fitzgibbon and create a People First Redistricting Commission.