Join us for part 2 of our series Redistricting and Reapportionment 2021: A Community Series to Educate, Empower and Engage as we discuss how citizens can make their voices heard by our state legislators.
Redistricting is the redrawing of election boundary lines for political, administrative, or other public bodies that elect its membership by the district. This includes but is not limited to congressional representatives, state legislators, local town and county councils, commissions, school boards, and many other offices elected by voters grouped in districts.
District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.
How can the public engage in this process? In each state or local jurisdiction, different entities are officially in charge of drawing district maps. But no matter where you are, there are steps you can take to influence the process.
In Georgia the state law requires consideration of “communities of interest”, these communities are at least in the background when the lines are drawn. Members of local communities can assist those in charge of the process by mapping out the boundaries of local communities that should be kept together within a district. Or, if a sizable community should be split in order to influence a larger number of representatives, members of that community can show the most appropriate places where the community might be split.
On Tuesday, July 27th we will dig deeper into what everyday citizens can do to be part of the process and have their voices heard.
The panel of speakers will share ways we as citizens can get involved in the process. Panelists include:
Ken Lawler, Chair, Fair Districts Georgia
Angela Brown, Executive Director, ATLCounts Census 2020
Chris Bruce, Political Director, ACLU
The panel will be moderated by Dr. Maria Boynton, News/Public Affairs Director, Entercom | Atlanta.
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