When the 2020 census data was released earlier this month, a new image of New Hampshire was presented to the public, one where our urban centers continue to grow, our state continues to age, and slowly but surely, we become more diverse. In addition to painting an updated picture of our state, the data presents us with the challenge we face every 10 years: redistricting.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing legislative, executive council and congressional districts. These maps determine how we will be represented in government for the next ten years. This process is incredibly important to our democracy and one we should all watch closely and participate in, particularly after the last redistricting process left voters out of the process and produced unfair maps.
As legislators, we have the critical duty to review and redraw political district lines to accurately reflect our shifting population and ensure adequate representation. But too often, we see redistricting used as an opportunity for politicians to redraw political lines in order to maintain power. This is known as gerrymandering; essentially allowing politicians to pick their voters rather than the other way around.
Just a few short months ago the chair of the Republican party here in New Hampshire openly chest thumped that because his party controlled the redistricting process he “guaranteed” that they will draw maps that would unfairly benefit Republicans. Think about that. He came right out and said they will undermine the will of voters by drawing maps that rig our elections in one party’s favor. That’s not how a healthy democracy works.
To ensure that redistricting truly accomplishes its core goal, the lines must be drawn in a fair, accessible and transparent process with robust public input. Plainly put, maps should not be drawn behind closed doors, where backroom deals are made to protect politicians from the will of the voters. Cities and towns across the state agree and have made it abundantly clear: transparent redistricting is a top priority.
As of July 1, over 70 communities like Merrimack, Londonderry, Madison and Weare had passed local resolutions calling for a fair, transparent, nonpartisan redistricting process.
Just last session, Senate Democrats put forward two pieces of legislation, SB 80 and SB 90, to address the issue of fair redistricting. SB 80 would have established an independent advisory commission on redistricting and SB 90 created procedural guidelines that would have guaranteed a redistricting process that was open to the public.
Both of these pro-public and transparency bills were killed by Senate Republicans, claiming that the public should just trust that they will do better and to trust them that the process would remain fair and open. Without any legislative guardrail to ensure the people will be listened to and respected, we now propose a set of simple guidelines for this critical process that must be followed in order to ensure the people get fair maps for the next decade.
First, all prospective maps must be made available to the public online and the criteria used to draw the lines must be transparent and accessible to all those wishing to offer input.
Second, all resources used in the redistricting process that have been paid for with state funds, including the software or data used to craft the maps by the majority party, are made immediately available to the minority party as well as to the public.
Third, the public must have adequate access to the redistricting committee. The committee should maintain a website so that schedules, materials and maps are promptly available to the public for feedback.
Lastly, the committee must hold meetings in each county prior to and following the release of any draft maps, with 7 day’s notice, and the public must have an opportunity to provide input on the draft maps. These meetings should be publicly noticed both online and locally, available for viewing online, and allow for virtual testimony.
Over the past year and a half, we have seen the positive impact of allowing Granite Staters to participate in the legislative process remotely and it is important to continue making this option available.
New Hampshire is changing and our district lines must change along with it. But they must be changed in a way that is reflective of our populations, not in a way that is reflective of the desires of the majority party to remain in power. All voices must be considered and equitably represented. A strong, vibrant and trustworthy democracy depends on voters choosing their elected leaders, not the other way around.
This can only be achieved with your voice. Call on your elected officials to end map manipulation and work towards a fair, accessible and transparent redistricting process, one that places a premium on the people, not politicians.
(Becky Whitley and Rebecca Perkins Kwoka are NH senators from Districts 15 and 21, respectively.)
My Turns are opinion-based essays submitted by Monitor readers and members of the community. The views expressed in My Turns are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Concord Monitor and its staff.