AOTL Texas Calls for a Transparent and Accessible Redistricting Process
For Immediate Release
January 25, 2023
Contact
Jena Doyle
doyle@redistrictingaction.org
Washington, D.C. – Today, All on the Line Texas, a grassroots organization on a mission to end gerrymandering, called on the state legislature to conduct a transparent and accessible redistricting process. Allowing individuals to participate in the redistricting process through public hearings is the first step towards passing a fairer map and protecting the rights of all Texans.
According to the 2020 Census, Texas experienced significant population growth over the past decade, with communities of color accounting for 95 percent of the state’s population growth. Today, there are approximately 2 million more Latinos living in Texas than in 2010. Despite these trends, the current Texas legislative maps are gerrymandered following the 2021 redraws. Specifically, in contrast to growing diversity and competitive nature of the state, the legislative maps break apart communities of color and are drawn to retain a Republican majority regardless of the will of the voters.
“It is essential for legislators to conduct a transparent and accessible process in creating new legislative maps where public testimony is incorporated and communities of interest are kept together as much as possible. New districts must be fair, accurately reflect the competitive nature of Texas and the growth of communities of color, and abide by requirements of the Voting Rights Act. Anything less than fair maps will not be acceptable,” said Liz Wester, All On The Line’s Director of Advocacy and Campaign Manager. “The most recent redistricting process was an abject failure. The Republican-led legislature chose to ignore the voices of the people and drew a gerrymandered map with the clear intention of maximizing their own political power.”
A fair process for drawing new Texas legislative maps will welcome and encourage transparency. Redistricting should not occur in a backroom away from public view. Additionally:
Map drawing should take place in a manner that is open and accessible to the public.
All maps drawn during committee meetings should be uploaded to the committee website in equivalency file, shapefile, and PDF form, regardless of whether or not they are “complete.”
The public should be able to scrutinize all drafts of maps, amendments, or supporting documents in real time as the maps are being developed.
Communications regarding redistricting should not be hidden from the public.
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