A new report from the League of Women Voters of Wake County details the cost of unfair redistricting in the state and provides recommendations for a transparent map-drawing process. Between 2011 and 2020, the North Carolina General Assembly spent $10.79 million in taxpayer dollars defending redistricting lawsuits, many of which they lost. LWV-Wake obtained this information from the Legislative Services Office in response to a request under the NC Public Records Act.

“The gerrymandering of voting maps in North Carolina has resulted in costly litigation over the last decade,” said LWV-Wake President Dianna Wynn. “The legislature must adopt a more impartial and transparent process for drawing maps before we move into the 2021 cycle of redistricting.”   

LWV-Wake recommends a transparent redistricting process that includes public meetings across the state with livestreaming and recording; a public comment portal that is both visible to the public and requires that legislators be responsive to public comment; a website that includes redistricting software, data, meeting notices and other important information; and more. 

View LWV-Wake's full press release here.