During July, August, and September of 2021, the League offered multiple educational activities to help citizens understand the impact of fair (and unfair) districts. The League used as an example the US Congressional line that divides the City of Hickory and a portion of Catawba County. Residents have been split between Districts 5 and 10 since 2019. to learn more about fair districts, click here.
Below are images and information from those events.
Learn about Lines2, September 13
“As much as possible, we should have redistricting be fair.”
Judge Robert Orr, former Justice of the NC Supreme Court, gave an informative and engaging talk about Redistricting and the Law on September 13th as part of LWVCV's Fair Districting awareness campaign.
Judge Orr began with defining “gerrymandering.” It is whem a group tries to gain power in elections through the redrawing of voting districts. He noted that the term “gerrymander,” named for Elbridge Gerry, should really be “Henry-mander” for Patrick Henry, who as a governor was the first to use these tactics. The practice of gerrymandering is as old as the democracy of the United States.
According to Judge Orr, there were initially very few constraints on drawing election maps. The aim of redistricting is to be as fair as possible, with “one person, one vote” as decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1964. However, present-day technological sophistication and exponential population growth has helped both parties to manipulate electoral districts to favor certain candidates (largely those of the party in power). In North Carolina, that has meant both major political parties have done it.
Redistricting occurs every ten years—after the population data from the US Census is completed. Judge Orr asserted that while redistricting is never perfect, the focus should be on the guardrails of transparency and the established criteria for redistricting.
Judge Orr's examples showed how complicated the process can be. He concluded that he has hopes the results this year’s efforts will be more fair if the General Assembly Redistricting Committee will be transparent based on the criteria they have set for the process. The evening ended with the audience asking questions beyond the projected ending time.
A recording of the presentation is available here.
Show up for the Lines
The North Carolina General Assembly Redistricting Committee held its first of 10 state-wide hearings at the Broyhill Center in Lenoir on September 8. Two League members spoke to the group. President Deb McGivern presented multiple reasons what a fair process is and why it matters. Rose Anna MacDonald, who represented both the Caldwell County NAACP and the League, made points about how more could be done to insure that maps are fair. Quotes from them and other speakers were published in The Carolina Journal.
A second area General Assembly hearing will be this week, Thursday, September 23 at Mitchell Community College, Iredell County Campus Shearer Hall, 500 W Broad St, Statesville 28677at 3PM. It is free and open to the public. If you would like to speak, register with the link on this page.
In the photo is the House Redistricting Chair, Destin Hall from Caldwell County (second from left). Catawba County's Senator Dean Proctor and Rep. Jay Adams are shown second and third from the right, respectively.
Learn about Lines, August 16
First, some comments on the evening.
… team had the evening well arranged -- one thing I really liked is that a League member asked each guest to write on an index card why redistricting matters, then they were photographed holding the card. Nice touch, Deb et al. This got the group engaged from the very moment they came in. Catawba Valley's program was a nice follow-on to the walk-the-line and drive-the-line activities of the last few weeks. —Phyllis Demko, panelist
Thank you very much for organizing that incredible panel! I wish all of NC could have been there. I am planning to be there on the 13th also …. —Claire Stone, ODC League member from Rockingham County, NC (District 10)
Drive the Line
Area citizens were given the opportunity to drive the district line between the US Congressional Districts 5 and 10. Step by step driving instructions were available (and still are) here. During August 5-9 yard signs posted along the route were visible reminders of how communities are divided. Those driving the line were encouraged to send in selfies to be posted here!
Walk the Line
Leaguers and friends spread through the Northview Middle School and St. Stephens High School Communities to raise awareness that the US Congressional District Line has cut through these neighborhoods since 2019. Door hangers were left at homes along the route describing the need for community centered fair districts. Walk the Line was done on July 29 and July 31.
“… And that’s all we’re asking for: an end to the antidemocratic and un-American practice of gerrymandering congressional districts”