February 26, 2019 SPECIAL PRESENTATION The 2020 Census, Gerrymandering, and Voter Suppression ` Jessica Jones Capparell LWVUS Policy and Legislative Affairs Senior Manager
League of Women Voters
Looking Toward 2020 State Legislatures In-Session 116 th Session of Congress Census Day: April 1, 2020 Election Day: November 3, 2020 Redistricting Cycle starts January 2021
Voter Suppression in the States Since 2010, 25 states have passed laws aimed at making it harder to vote Voter Id Requirements Reducing Early Voting and Absentee Changes to polling places and poll workers Proof of citizenship requirements Purging Voters Courtesy Brennan Center for Justice
Shelby County v. Holder 2013: Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted the Voting Rights Act Loss of preclearance allows states to move forward with suppressive voter laws without prior approval from the Department of Justice Continued to open the floodgates for legislation that made it harder for people to vote 2021 redistricting cycle will be the first without full VRA protections
Redistricting At-A-Glance Next round of Redistricting starts in 2021 after the U.S. Census data is released Redistricting is done differently in every state All states use Census data and apportionment of the 435 House districts is done under the U.S. Constitution Multiple levels of redistricting: federal, state, local/municipal levels Courtesy UNC Carolina Population Center
What is Gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is the practice of creating political or racial subdivisions in order to benefit one side or another. Partisan Gerrymandering: Ensure that one political party stays in power for years to come. Racial Gerrymandering: Benefit or intentionally dilute minority groups 2011 NC Congressional District Map
2011 NC Congressional District Map 2016 NC Congressional District Map Gerrymandering in NC
How can we stop Gerrymandering? Take the power of drawing maps out of the hands of politicians Establish Criteria for drawing districts Equal population Ensure effective representation of racial and linguistic minorities Be contiguous Protect communities of interest Promote partisan fairness Respect boundaries of municipalities and counties Create an open and transparent process
Voters in 2018 Election Supported Independent Map Drawing Colorado Michigan Missouri Utah Ohio
Prospective Opportunities There is currently activity in Virginia Maryland Indiana Oregon New Jersey North Carolina Arkansas New Hampshire
Pending Litigation Litigation North Carolina LWV of North Carolina v. Rucho Common Cause v. Rucho Maryland Benisek v. Lamone Wisconsin Gill v. Whiford
Litigation in Action LWV Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Example CHALLENGED MAP: 2011 REMEDIAL MAP: 2018 `
Pennsylvania Example REPRESENTATION 2016 REPRESENTATION 2018 U.S. House 2016 Election U.S. House 2018 Election Democrat Republican Other Party Democrat Republican Other Party Representatives Elected 28% 72% 0% ` Representatives Elected 50% 50% 0% Voters Registered 49% 38% 13% Voters Registered 48% 38% 13%
Preparing for the 2020 Census Concerns over Census preparation Citizenship question Establishment of state and local Complete Count Committees Funding sources from state budgets Working with organizations, businesses and officials on the ground Iowa State Capital
YOUR role in the process Encourage participation in Census and Redistricting Call your state and congressional representatives and demand fair maps Determine whether your state has ballot initiative option Work within coalitions doing redistricting reform
Thank you! Jessica Jones Capparell Policy and Legislative Affairs Senior Manager jjones@lwv.org