FIGHTING FOR FAIR VOTING DISTRICTS,
ONE ACTION AT A TIME.

Why does redistricting matter? Our representatives in local, state, and federal government set the rules by which we live. In ways large and small, they affect the taxes we pay, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the ways in which we make each other safer and more secure.

The way that voters are grouped into districts therefore has an enormous influence on who our representatives are, and what policies they fight for. For example, a district composed mostly of farmers is likely to elect a representative who will fight for farmers’ interests, but a district composed mostly of city dwellers may elect a representative with different priorities. Similarly, districts drawn with large populations of the same race, or ethnicity, or language, or political party are more likely to elect representatives with the same characteristics. 

Why Redistricting Reform is Necessary Now
North Carolina has a long history of lawmakers drawing voting districts in ways that weaken the political power of voters, especially Black voters. Our state needs a new and fair redistricting process to restore our faith in our democracy.

On Redistricting Bills
What we want to see is a good redistricting reform process of drawing political district maps that is fair and open, avoids racial or partisan gerrymandering, and allows voters to pick their political representatives, not the other way around. It’s long past time that we had a public committee hearing on redistricting reform — and a process that encourages deep involvement from local communities and examining best practices from across the country to guide the drawing of district maps that better reflect our unique state.

North Carolinians Want Fair Maps
What’s one thing that Donald Trump supporters and African Americans in North Carolina agree on? By large majorities, according to a new poll, they think the way state legislators draw their political districts is unfair and too influenced by partisan politics. The poll, commissioned by the nonpartisan group Democracy North Carolina, reveals unusually broad support across the political spectrum for redistricting reform.

• • Overall, four out of five North Carolina voters (80%) say it’s not fair for politicians to draw their own districts. That includes 85% of Democrats, 74% of Republicans, 80% of independents – as well as 70% of Trump supporters and 80% of African Americans.

• • The poll, also shows that voters want elected leaders who will change the system. A majority of Democrats (58%) and Republicans (56%) agreed they’d be more likely to vote for candidates who support an impartial method for drawing voting districts. Support for reform is even more important among the crucial sector of unaffiliated voters; 68% say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who favors an impartial redistricting system.

Redistricting is a Long-term Fight
Redistricting reform is a long-term fight that requires champions for redistricting inside and outside of the legislature. Through our coalition of organizations and advocates, we are collecting petitions, making calls, canvassing our neighbors, hosting in-district meetings and town halls with legislators — all with the goal to build support and pressure lawmakers to champion redistricting reform.

In 2017, we’ll sit down with lawmakers and ask them to champion redistricting reform. We won’t win until we get champions inside the legislature. Get involved with the movement for redistricting reform today — all in your spare time!

In an effort to make North Carolina’s elections fair, reduce political divides, and stop racial gerrymandering (and the endless litigation that follows), Democracy North Carolina joins our coalition partners to support legislation that establishes an independent commission to create voting districts in a fair and open process. Join us in calling for our lawmakers to support independent redistricting reform ~ we’ll deliver the message.

Read up on the issue of redistricting and how unfair maps have affected the election process in North Carolina. We’ve provided a handy one-pager to get you started.

Attend a monthly meeting to join a local group and take action together. Democracy NC has local coalitions in communities across North Carolina. Click below to see a list of our upcoming coalition meetings and find the one nearest you or get involved by region at demnc.co/region