Those of you who joined us for the January all-member meeting know that we had a discussion about Program of Work – defining this process as one of setting strategic priorities. Members reached a unanimous consensus that our League should urge the State League to make redistricting reform one of its strategic priorities – and continue support for the Statewide Task Force goal to reimagine and reform the Washington state redistricting process.
This is not a short-term effort. If we want to return to good governance in our redistricting process, we need to pass a state constitutional amendment. Doing so is a commitment to yearslong work. Here’s what that looks like:
This reform campaign mirrors the multiyear goal set by our national League to eliminate the Electoral College. In fact, redistricting reform is part of a suite of democracy reform strategies contained in Making Democracy Work®:
”We believe
responsibility for fair redistricting should be vested in an independent special commission, with membership that reflects the diversity of the unit of government.”
Our Local Action Team has been following and supporting the work of the statewide task force. We’ve had conversations with Snohomish County legislators, asking about their knowledge of the redistricting process and their take on the work of the 2021 Commission. And we’ve been sharing links to several recent studies that affirm the effectiveness of truly independent “People-Powered” commissions. This is the model the League supports.
How do we know that independent commissions are, in fact, effective? Three recent reports support our thinking:
This third report mentions several components of a recipe for success. The report states that participation of community-based organizations is key [italics added]:
- The redistricting process should begin as early as is feasible, allowing more time to recruit and select commissioners who reflect the jurisdiction they will serve; train and team-build commissioners; and educate, prepare, and engage community-based organizations and the public.
- Efforts must be made to ensure that commissions reflect the diversity of the jurisdiction.
- Community-based organizations and community leaders are critical to building trust, engaging all voices, and informing and holding commissions accountable throughout the process.
We believe the fight for fair maps is fundamental to our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. Furthermore, we believe the League of Women Voters, as a trusted community-based organization, is uniquely positioned to take on this fight.
If you are interested in joining the work, attend our monthly Local Area Team meetings, the second Thursday at 10:00 A.M. (Find the link on the website calendar.) And be in it for the long term.