People Powered Fair Maps™
Background
Every 10 years, after the collection of the decennial census data, states redraw their state and congressional district lines. These districts determine how communities are represented at the local, state, and federal levels. The redistricting process is fundamental in influencing how our government works for us.
The League of Women Voters of the United States has long been concerned about state redistricting efforts for their state congressional seats (both House and Senate) and U.S. Congressional seats.
Political and racial gerrymandering by state political parties have taken the one person-one vote concept and have distorted it to disenfranchise many voters. Since most states regulate their own redistricting plans, the political party in power uses this power to re-district according to their specific political whims.
Enter your address to find your district and precinct information here: Tennessee Lookup District Dashboard.
The League of Women Voters Stance
Congressional districts and government legislative bodies should be apportioned substantially on population. The League opposes partisan and racial gerrymandering that strips rights away from voters.
The League of Women Voters of the United States has initiated a two-year program to strengthen the redistricting process to protect more voters. The League of Women Voters of Tennessee has received a substantial grant to implement the strategy and statement of work that we have proposed. We will strive for more transparency and more public input into this process that does not currently exist.
Redistricting Webinars
July 23 (Virtual): Redistricting in Tennessee - Dr. Sekou Franklin. Watch HERE
July 22 (Virtual):Communities of Interest: Building Blocks for Redistricting - Yurij Rudensky of the Brennan Center for Justice.Watch HERE
June 9 (Virtual): The Great Unskewing: The Law and Politics of Redistricting - Steven J. Mulroy, Bredesen Professor of Law at University of Memphis. Watch HERE
May 14 (Virtual): Defining Communities of Interest for Establishing Legislative Districts - David Padgett, Associate Professor at Tennessee State University. Watch HERE
April 29 (Virtual): Voting Access, Redistricting, and the Right to Representation Kristin Eberhard, Author of Becoming a Democracy: How We Can Fix the Electoral College, Gerrymandering, and Our Elections. Watch HERE
April 24 (Virtual): Redistricting Process in Tennessee: LWVTN Convention Panel Doug Himes, Ethics Counsel, TN House of Representatives and Matthew Hill, Senior Specialist (GIS), Division of Property Assessment, Office of the TN Comptroller. Watch HERE
LWVTN Brings Public Voices to Redistricting Process
2021 Redistricting Hearings Summary
Interview: Debby Gould, President of the League of Women Voters of Tennessee - Listen HERE
Middle TN Hearing - Watch HERE
East TN Hearing - Watch HERE
West TN Hearing - Watch HERE
Detailed Information
The following articles describe the People Powered Fair Maps™ initiative in more detail:
- An Accurate Census - This is Where Fair Redistricting Begins
- People Powered Fair Maps: The League View
- Problematic Redistricting in Tennessee
-
What Every Voter Should Know About Redistricting
Resources
Learn more about LWVUS national People Powered Fair Map Campaign here:https://www.lwv.org/peoplepoweredfairmaps?utm_source=LeagueUpdate&utm_medium
=email&utm_campaign=02112021
TN General Assembly House Redistricting Site: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/committees/Redistricting.aspx
Map of Current TN General Assembly House Districts: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/districtmaps/HouseState.html
Map of Current TN General Assembly Senate Districts: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fmlv3/districts.aspx#senate
Map of TN Congressional Districts: https://ballotpedia.org/File:Tennessee-congressional-map-2010.gifTennessee's congressional districts - Wikipedia
Coalition Members
The following Coalition Members join the League of Women Voters of Tennessee for the People Powered Fair Maps™ initiative.
