Thread by @bribrough

The redistricting process in North Carolina officially kicks off this week. Here’s what to expect, why this matters, and how YOU can fight for fair maps. #allontheline_nc #ncpol #FairMaps
/thread

District maps are foundational to our democracy. They impact who we vote with, who gets elected, even the power of our votes. Maps can be manipulated to pre-determine which party will hold power. That’s called gerrymandering, and both parties do it.

Most people think that maps should be drawn by an independent commission. That’s how it works in 21 other states. Independent commissions aren’t perfect, but they are generally better than letting politicians draw their own districts.

We’re not getting one in NC, though. At least not this year. Last week, a chair of the NCGA Joint Redistricting Committee (JRC) said, “[We] are confident we can draw these maps according to the constitution and in a timely manner".

Maps will be drawn by select members of the NC House and NC Senate – the Joint Redistricting Committee (JRC). You can see who is on that committee below. You’re probably going to want to go ahead and put those folks on speed dial. We’re going to bug the shit out of them.

House Redistricting Committee:
ncleg.gov/Committees/Com…

Senate Redistricting Committee:
ncleg.gov/Committees/Com…

Next week, the JRC will begin an 8-10 week process to draw and pass new legislative and congressional maps. We expect final maps by mid-November. In 2011, this process took 4-5 months. So, this timeline is…compressed. #FairMaps #NCpol

On Monday, the JRC chairs will proposed redistricting criteria. This is where they explicitly state what criteria they will use to draw maps. The committee will meet at 3pm to discuss the proposed criteria. You can listen to the discussion here:
​​ncleg.gov/Audio/finance

According to the Constitution, criteria that must be considered are equal population and contiguity. Other criteria that are often considered include compactness, political boundaries, incumbency and communities of interest.

On Tuesday morning, the JFC will take in-person public comment on the criteria. This is the ONLY chance to comment in person on what criteria will be used to draw our voting districts. They vote on Thursday. #FairMaps

It’s bananas that this hearing is being held at 8:30am on a Tuesday morning in Raleigh with less than a week’s notice. That precludes 99.999% of the people from being able to speak. Why are they trying to rush through this part of the process? You know why.

There is an online comment portal. If you can't come in person, that’s a great option. But testifying in person is powerful. You get to look them in the eye and tell them what you want. They have not committed to making public comments made through the portal...public. What??

You may remember disgraced Rep. David Lewis’ infamous “10-3” proclamation in 2016. He was explicitly naming partisan advantage as the criteria the committee would use to draw the maps.
theintercept.com/2019/10/30/nor…

Lewis’ statement was a strategic move to clarify their criteria as partisan advantage, not racial advantage. But the impact on the maps was the same. The maps from that process, like the racially gerrymandered ones before them, were later struck down by the courts.

Another criteria that has been used is incumbency protection. This is where they draw districts to protect the people who already hold office. So if the incumbents were elected under gerrymandered maps, that gets baked into the new maps as well. Does that seem right to you?

It doesn’t have to be this way. The criteria for our maps could be to draw districts that best reflect our state. To keep Communities of Interest whole, so they can elect people who represent them. That’s why Tuesday’s hearing is so important. #FairMaps

If you’re local to the Raleigh area and able to make it to the NCGA on Tuesday morning, please come out and make a comment on the criteria. We’re holding a training at 7:00pm on Monday to help folks prepare. #FairMaps
mobilize.us/allonthelinenc…

Redistricting criteria are critical. Please take some time to make a public comment, whether in person or via the portal. Do you want them to consider communities of interest? Prioritize protecting incumbents? This is your chance to let them know.
ncleg.gov/requestforcomm…

They’ll vote on redistricting criteria on Thursday. That’s also the day we expect the US Census Bureau to release new population data that will be used to actually draw the maps. Stay tuned for another thread later this week on that! #FairMaps #Redistricting @NCpol