News. Debate. Community. Levers for a better democracy.
The State of Reform
Download Unite America’s free report
Download Unite America's free report analyzing the impact of four key political reforms.
MOST READ
Get some leverage.
Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter.
Redistricting
KenKPhoto/Getty Images
Democrats would be assured of dominating Trenton for another term if the referendum is OKd.
New Jersey will vote on keeping gerrymandered map for two extra years
Jul 31 2020
Voters will decide in November whether the next redrawing of New Jersey's legislative districts may be postponed for two years.
It will be one of the more unusual referendums addressing partisan gerrymandering — and yet another wrinkle in the running of democracy wrought by the coronavirus.
Democrats who control the Legislature say keeping current districts in place until 2023 is the fairest thing to do if population reports from the Census Bureau are delayed, which looks likely because of the complications of counting heads in a pandemic. That's a subterfuge for holding on to their seats for an extra term, Republicans complain, while good-government groups say the postponement would deny growing minority populations more influence in Trenton.
<p>Legislators concluded the only way to get what they want was to ask the people to amend the state Constitution. The measure to put the language on the Nov. 3 ballot was cleared Thursday.</p><p><p style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;margin:40px auto;font-size:2rem" href="https://thefulcrum.us/st/newsletters">Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter </a></p></p><p>The timetable is unusually tight in New Jersey, because it's one of just two states that have legislative elections in 2021. (The other is Virginia, which will vote this fall on whether to assign redistricting to an independent panel, with its deadline for producing new maps not yet certain.)</p><p>If voters approve the measure, next year New Jersey will elect 120 legislators in the districts used since 2011 — assuming the census numbers are delivered after the middle of February. (Typically, the detailed data set is delivered by early March.) Lawmakers say this will provide the time needed to come up with fresh maps. </p><p>But that deadline is way too early, says the <a href="https://thefulcrum.us/princeton-gerrymandering-project" target="_self">Princeton Gerrymandering Project</a>, one of the groups opposed to the measure.</p><p>It would be possible to redraw the districts later and then delay the primary, which is usually in June, although maps drawn in the summer wouldn't leave much time to campaign in new territory for primaries in the early fall. Only a decade ago, when census results were late, the state responded by delaying the primary three weeks.</p><p>"This measure is unnecessary and it's extreme," said Republican state Sen. Kip Bateman. "It's not about fairness or accuracy. It's about protecting incumbents and the majority party's two decades of control in the Legislature."</p><p>The Princeton group maintains that pushing back an election is better than delaying redistricting because the latter would mean diluted voting power for the state's Latino and Asian-American communities, which have grown a combined 20 percent — more than 400,000 people — over the last decade, enough to become players in electing more state senators and House members.</p><p>The state's 12 congressional districts are redrawn using a separate process that won't be affected by this measure, and don't need to be remade as quickly in any case.</p><p>New Jersey is one of eight states that use independent redistricting commissions to draw new maps each decade for both Congress and the state legislature. Six other states do so for just the legislature.</p>
From Your Site Articles
- Experts identify the worst examples of gerrymandering - The Fulcrum ›
- Mapmaking commission effort comes up way short in Nevada - The ... ›
- Mapmakers will have to scramble if Trump gets census delay - The ... ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep reading...
Show less
Dorian Spears
Meet the reformer: Dorian Spears, pushing the importance of counting all Tennesseans
Jul 31 2020
Dorian Spears has spent her whole life in Memphis. After college she worked for a social services agency, on a mayoral task force to curb gun violence and as a county economic development official before joining Momentum Nonprofit Partners, which coordinates local philanthropic efforts, three years ago. As chief partnerships officer, her current focus is coordinating efforts to assure a comprehensive census count of Tennessee, especially its cities, to maximize government aid and political power for the state's Black neighborhoods. Her answers have been edited for clarity and length.
What's the tweet-length description of your organization?
An intermediary that strengthens nonprofits from the inside out through training, peer learning, advocacy, public policy and cross sector partnerships.
<p><strong>Describe your very first civic engagement. </strong></p>
<p>As a 7-year-old, I accompanied my parents and grandparents to vote at the nearby public library. I held their hands as we advanced in the line, listening to their discussions about candidates and their advice to me: "When you become an adult, you will have the right to vote. Ancestors came before you, suffered and lost their lives to make this right possible. We will remind you to sign up around your 18th birthday." That is exactly what happened after I obtained my driver's license. I went to the post office, registered to vote — and have not missed an election since.</p>
<p><p style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;margin:40px auto;font-size:2rem" href="https://thefulcrum.us/st/newsletters">Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter </a></p></p><p><strong>What was your biggest professional triumph?</strong></p>
<p>Getting 10 of my city's nonprofit and philanthropic organizations into one room for an eight-month effort, led by Beloved Community, to create racial equity action plans that anchor their policies and practices. It took almost a year to make that happen, with a few organizations almost backing out of the contract. While my goal was 20 organizations, including from government and business, I was thankful the institutions that signed on took this initiative seriously. We wrapped up a few weeks before Covid-19 arrived and have remained connected as we work through solidifying our respective plans. </p>
<p><strong>And your most disappointing setback?</strong></p>
<p>Most setbacks have arrived in my life when I did not take heed to my intuition or I took myself too seriously. I give myself grace in those moments and keep it moving.</p>
<p><strong>How does your identity influence the way you go about your work?</strong></p>
<p>I am Black woman in a senior professional role. When I grew up, little was expected from residents of my ZIP code. Now I recognize I am in a privileged space, invited to tables where I can influence change — and able to invite colleagues and younger leaders who would benefit from access to these rooms so they, too, can shape positive change. </p>
<p>As a practitioner of equity, diversity, and inclusion, I understand how setting the foundation of anti-Black racism and white dominant culture is important before we can arrive at this conclusion: Actions must be taken to allow for a thriving of communities that have suffered for generations, under systems not intended for marginalized identities. Knowing our current systems were not meant for all to benefit makes me angry often. At best, this makes me hopeful and engaged to create opportunities to shift that narrative.</p>
<p><strong>What's the best advice you've ever been given?</strong></p>
<p>Trust people to be themselves. It lessens surprise and disappointment.</p>
<p><strong>Create a new flavor for Ben & Jerry's. </strong></p>
<p>As a fan of the Atlanta based hip-hop group OutKast, it would be called "So Fresh, So Clean" — a citrus fruit mix sorbet with a hint of rosemary. </p>
<p><strong>What's your favorite political movie or TV show? </strong></p>
<p>"The Daily Show" with Trevor Noah. Or "House of Cards," but post-Kevin Spacey.</p>
<p><strong>What's the last thing you do on your phone at night?</strong></p>
<p>Check my calendar for the next day's schedule, play a crossword game — and meditate.</p>
<p><strong>What is your deepest, darkest secret?</strong></p><p>I would love to go to Colorado to visit the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Canyon City. I would get on the Royal Rush Skycoaster, ride the Aerial Gondolas and try the "Cloudscraper" — the highest zip line in the country! I do love adventure. </p>
From Your Site Articles
- An invitation to Gen Z: Describe your wish for America. - The Fulcrum ›
- Virus threatens a long-anticipated surge in student voting - The ... ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep reading...
Show less
mapchart.net; Tristiaña Hinton/The Fulcrum
Can you spot the gerrymandered congressional district?
Jul 30 2020
Think you can recognize what congressional districts look like? Take this quiz to see if you can pick out which pieces were drawn on maps by legislatures and which ones are abstract doodles created by our staff.
<p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><script src="https://app.credspark.com/assessments/gerrymandered-congressional-district-or-abstract-art/embed_script.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="credsparkQuiz" data-quiz-id="gerrymandered-congressional-district-or-abstract-art"></div></div><div></div><div><p><em>This quiz is powered by <a href="https://www.credspark.com/" target="_blank">CredSpark</a>.</em></p></div>
From Your Site Articles
- Expressing your anger at gerrymandering? There's a font for that ... ›
- Experts identify the worst examples of gerrymandering - The Fulcrum ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep reading...
Show less
mapchart.net
Mapmaking commission effort comes up way short in Nevada
Jul 29 2020
Nevada will remain a state where politicians get to draw the election boundaries they run in. Advocates for turning the mapmaking over to an independent panel have conceded defeat.
Fair Maps Nevada announced Tuesday it was able to collect only 12,000 of the 98,000 signatures required to get their proposal on the November ballot, giving up a week ahead of the deadline. The group said it was stymied by the social distancing and safety protocols mandated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Assigning independent commissions to draw congressional and legislative district lines, instead of the state legislators themselves, is widely regarded as the best way to combat partisan gerrymandering. This year's election is effectively the last chance for states to make the switch in time for the maps being drawn for the next decade.
<p>Fair Maps Nevada sued in May in search of relief from some of the petition requirements given the public health crisis. Last month, a federal judge <a href="https://thefulcrum.us/redistricting/nevada-redistricting" target="_self">granted</a> the group a six-week extension, until next Wednesday, but denied its bid to gather signatures electronically.</p>
<p><p style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;margin:40px auto;font-size:2rem" href="https://thefulcrum.us/st/newsletters">Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter </a></p></p><p>"This is not the end of our efforts," the group said in its concession announcement, which promised to lay the groundwork for a successful referendum in two years, in plenty of time for the 2031 redistricting. "We will build a database of 'Pledge to Sign' supporters who will be ready to sign a new petition when we refile our redistricting reform ballot question.</p>
<p>Over the next 15 months, Fair Maps Nevada aims to reach 200,000 people who promise to sign its new petition at the end of next year. The group will also host monthly forums on anti-gerrymandering efforts.</p>
<p>Because of delays in the census thanks to the coronavirus, a special session of the solidly Democratic state Legislature will probably be convened in the fall of 2021 to draw the 63 legislative and four House districts for the rest of the decade. Fair Maps vowed that its supporters will flood Carson City "as an observer corps to ensure our new redistricting maps are fair and free from gerrymandering."</p>
<p>Fourteen states are sure to use independent commissions to draw state legislative districts next year, and eight will do so for congressional districts.</p>Virginia will join this group if voters approve a measure on the November ballot. On the other hand, Missouri voters will decide whether to undo a redistricting initiative enacted two years ago. Efforts to get commission measures on the ballot are still alive in <a href="https://thefulcrum.us/redistricting/redistricting-reform-oregon-arkansas" target="_self">Arkansas, North Dakota and Oregon</a>.
From Your Site Articles
- Anti-gerrymandering fights make a stop at the courthouse - The ... ›
- Nevada redistricting could become nonpartisan — in 2023 - The ... ›
- Nevada redistricting effort gets more time - The Fulcrum ›
- New Jersey may keep current legislative maps two extra years - The Fulcrum ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep reading...
Show less