RALEIGH, N.C. — Despite overwhelming support for independent redistricting, for far too long North Carolina’s voting maps have been drawn behind closed doors to protect partisan interests.
Now, pro-democracy lawmakers in the N.C. Senate have introduced a redistricting reform bill that would finally give North Carolina a “Citizens Redistricting Commission.”
Support the “Gold Standard Redistricting” bill: demnc.co/golds
Democracy North Carolina’s Tomas Lopez released the following statement in response.
“Senate Bill 673 would provide the gold standard for citizen-led independent redistricting, creating an independent redistricting commission for map-making that would emphasize public input and transparency, and take away the incentive to rig maps regardless of who’s in power. Senate Bill 673 is the best choice yet for reining in North Carolina’s politicians, who have used the current process to pick their voters, not the other way around. We’re encouraging voters to contact their lawmakers in support of North Carolina’s Citizens Redistricting Commission — and send a strong message in favor of voting maps created by voters for voters.”
Lopez added, “Unfair maps make our representatives less responsive, our votes less meaningful, and our politics more toxic. Progress will take several forms, but by separating map drawing from the incentive to rig, independent redistricting is critical to a comprehensive solution.”