In recent days, some members of the General Assembly introduced a bill to be called the Fair Maps Act, which would strengthen democracy in North Carolina by ending partisan and racial gerrymandering. The League has been fighting for redistricting reform for decades. Now that the Supreme Court has made it clear that it wants no part in a solution (see Rucho v. League of Women Voters of North Carolina), the League and our partners must ramp up our push at the state level.
The Fair Maps Act will give voters an opportunity to amend our state constitution with a new provision for an independent commission made up of ordinary citizens. The North Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission would prepare and approve districting plans without interference from the General Assembly. The Act would call for “electoral impartiality,” which means that neither political considerations (such as who voted, and how) nor residence of incumbent legislators can be considered. Other important reforms, long sought by the League, would be included:
- full transparency under NC’s laws, ensuring open meetings and access to records
- required number of public hearings
- meaningful response to community input
- adherence to core redistricting principles (such as equal population, compactness, contiguity)
- minimal use of split counties, municipalities, precincts, and communities of interest
Because the Fair Maps Act includes a constitutional amendment, it would require ratification by the voters and, therefore, would not take effect until January 2023. Meanwhile, the redrawing in 2021, following release of the U.S. Census data, will be entirely in the hands of the legislature.
The League strongly encourages separate legislation setting out an improved set of procedures and criteria to govern the 2021 redrawing. The General Assembly should build on principles laid down by the NC state court in 2019, that required a more open and transparent process than ever before allowed by either party. The process used this year can and should be strengthened to provide greater transparency, stronger criteria, and enhanced opportunities for voter participation.
The League encourages all our members and friends to call on the legislature to take both of the steps laid out above: 1) to take up House Bill 437, allowing it a full and fair hearing, and giving it final approval, and 2) to adopt improved procedures and criteria to govern the 2021 redistricting.
Let your representatives know where you stand! Find your legislators’ contact information here.
Relatedly, LWVUS has called on League members across the country to join a Day of Action for People-Powered Fair Maps, set for Thursday, April 29.
The day’s program (via Zoom) will include a call to action by current and former legislators, training on what to say when you call, ongoing support to callers, and a wrap-up conversation with some of our legislators. Phone calls are preferred, but participants also have the option of sending postcards and/or tweets. Sign up to participate here and encourage your friends to do likewise. Both League members and non-members are welcome!
Let’s show them we want fair maps!
