As a newcomer to New Hampshire, I learned that my county, Rockingham, belonged to a swing district (district 1) in the state and found a healthy balance among the local Democrats and Republicans I have met. Imagine my disappointment in learning that the state legislature is proposing an egregious, openly gerrymandered, redistricting map that would destroy my county as part of a swing district and make it permanently Republican. Basically, my vote would be wasted if it isn’t for a Republican candidate. Similarly, district 2, which would become even more heavily Democratic, would have many wasted votes. This anemic voting scenario adversely affects candidates themselves who now wouldn’t have to compete with each other for voters’ sympathies.
In a democracy every candidate must earn their voters’ confidence and every vote must count. Since the 19th century, redistricting committees have determined that less than 30 New Hampshire towns should, for demographic reasons, shift districts. By a horrifying contrast, the proposed redistricting plan for this year alone would require almost three times as many shifts. Over 300,000 Granite Staters would suddenly vote in a different district. Communities with common interests would be split up. This has nothing to do with demographic changes and everything to do with political expediency and bias. It is pure and simple gerrymandering. Gov. Sununu said he would not support a redistricting map that didn’t “pass the smell test,” which this proposal surely does not. An independent redistricting committee must redraw the map fairly.
Jeffrey Robinson
South Hampton