Rare opportunity to change districting

By LUNELL HAUGHT

Contributor

Washington has the opportunity to review and change the Redistricting Commission every 10 years. This is the group that works in the background making sure the wheels of democracy turn smoothly and fairly. The commission decides where the lines will be drawn for legislative and congressional districts.

In the next 10 years decisions about growth, energy, transportation, water, fire and quality of life issues will be made by our legislators and congressional representatives. Now is when you can influence the process for doing that.

Counting who lives where is a federally mandated constitutional requirement. Once that information is known it will be used in drawing lines to determine what legislative district you will vote in. This is our last chance to make any corrections for the next 10 years.

The League of Women Voters of Washington urges support of Substitute House Bill 2575 that upgrades and updates Washington States’ redistricting process.

The 2,400 League of Women Voters of Washington members have been involved with this issue for years, and recently we have held public forums on redistricting with more than 1,600 people from across Washington. Although they don’t all know what the maps should look like, nearly everyone shares similar ideas about what process they would trust.

The shape of political districts is basic to people’s representation in government. To the greatest extent possible, people from across the state should have a role in the drafting and revision of the political maps.

Over the past few years the five-member, bipartisan Redistricting Commission held public forums to solicit input and agree with the League’s findings. People want to know about commission meetings, want to be able to attend and be able to testify in their preferred language.

This bill includes those provisions that people said they wanted. It provides for translation services for those with limited English to engage with the commission. SHB 2575 makes the process work for more people.

People want to know commission priorities and whether or not the criteria and objectives were met. People want time to look at preliminary maps, to know what data was used, to give comprehensive feedback and to know that feedback will be considered.

Essentially, people said they want commissioners who listen, focus on this complex task and are given every opportunity to do the job right in only 10 and a half months. SHB 2575 makes this possible.

Transparency and public accountability measures go a long way toward having fair maps. When more people understand and are involved in the process we get stronger trust in government and stronger communities.

The entire process must be straightforward, open and clear. People trust what they can see and understand. Washington’s election process and systems are much better than many states. Some might say “good enough” is fine, but it may not be good enough for the next 10 years.

The League of Women Voters of Washington, a leader in redistricting, voter services and representation for over 90 years, enthusiastically supports SHB 2575. We continue to research, educate and promoted equal representation and government transparency. We urge the Washington State Legislature to lead in redistricting and pass SHB 2575. We want to be ready for what’s coming.

Lunell Haught is the President of the League of Women Voters of Washington and a resident of Spokane County.