Redistricting is the most important voting and election issue in Delaware this year. That’s why we need as many of us as possible to have a say in this important democratic process. The recent release of census data in an easier-to-use format will help ensure that more of us can equitably participate in this year’s redistricting cycle.
Redistricting will determine the voting power of our neighborhoods, towns and cities for the next 10 years. That’s why it’s so important that we, the people, have a say in how our maps are drawn. When the people are involved, we can be sure that maps are created to benefit us, not the politicians.
But for too long, redistricting has been out of reach for many. Self-interested politicians have kept much of the process behind closed doors in an attempt to silence us from speaking up for fair maps.
Our voices and our peoplepower are the only things standing between those politicians and gerrymandered maps that carve up our communities and crush our voting power.
At every level of government, it’s critical that we hold our elected leaders accountable for drawing fair maps this redistricting cycle. Fair maps will mean we have the power to vote for better schools, a strong economy and quality health care. Fair maps mean we, the people, can have equal say in the governmental decisions that impact our communities, regardless of our political affiliation, the color of our skin or where we live.
Redistricting is our chance to set the stage for free and fair elections and an accountable government for the next decade. About 10 years ago, inventions like the iPad, the Impossible Burger and self-driving cars didn’t exist. Since the last redistricting cycle, we’ve elected two different U.S. presidents from two different political parties, more than 23 million Americans gained access to health care under the Affordable Care Act, and more women and people of color serve in Congress than at any other time in history.
Ten years is too long to sit out this redistricting cycle. We are grateful to all those who have already made their voices loud and clear for fair redistricting. We encourage everyone in Delaware to join us in our call for fair maps today. If you care about having a say in your future, your family’s future or your community’s future, we need you to participate in redistricting.
A strong and vibrant democracy is a participatory democracy, one in which we, the people, have the power to make political decisions. That power is stronger when we fight together.
We remain committed to our collective fight for fair maps and a collaborative democracy that invites everyone to have a say in this process. We urge our state leaders to announce public hearing dates and times as soon as possible, so all voters have a real chance to have a say in redistricting. We look forward to continuing our work with every community to make this one of the most participatory redistricting cycles in state history.
Claire Snyder-Hall is the director of Common Cause Delaware.
