Fair Maps +
Voter Choice =
REAL Elections
Deadline For New Maps
Indiana Gerrymandering Impact
Rethink Redistricting Plan
Redistricting 101
Once every 10 years, We The People choose our government by redrawing our legislative districts based on the new census data. Redistricting is this process of “drawing maps” to define the boundaries of our legislative districts. Maps are drawn for three levels of districts (Congressional, State Senate, and State House).
The Indiana legislature is made up of 50 State Senators and 100 State Representatives each apportioned a unique district. Indiana is currently apportioned 9 U.S. Congressional reps, based on our population reported in the decennial census. Also with their own unique districts.
Each of these districts must have new maps drawn every 10 years that divide the population up equally, but that do not overlap.
At election time, we vote within the U.S. Congressional, State Senate, and State House districts that we live in.
Gerrymandering is a practice intended to establish an unfair political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts.
Two principal tactics are used in gerrymandering: “cracking” (i.e. diluting the voting power of the opposing party’s supporters across many districts) and “packing” (concentrating the opposing party’s voting power in one district to reduce their voting power in other districts).
In addition to its use achieving desired electoral results for a particular party, gerrymandering may be used to help or hinder a particular demographic, such as a political, ethnic, racial, religious, or class group.
Gerrymandering can also be used to protect incumbents. Thomas Hofeller, the Redistricting Chair of the Republican National Committee, stated “Redistricting is like an election in reverse. It’s a great event. Usually the voters get to pick the politicians. In redistricting, the politicians get to pick the voters.“
The term gerrymandering is named after American politician Elbridge Gerry, who, as Governor of Massachusetts in 1812, signed a bill that created a partisan district in the Boston area that was compared to the shape of a mythological salamander. The term has negative connotations and gerrymandering is almost always considered a corruption of the democratic process. The resulting district is known as a gerrymander.
The Problem
When politicians are the sole authority in how districts are carved up there is bound to be partisan games played at the expense of the voter.
There are two reasons why political parties rely on Gerrymandering:
- to grow or maintain their legislative control, or
- to punish a colleague for going against party leadership.
Party politicians will use Cracking and Packing to ensure there are fewer opposition party voters in their “safe” districts leading to less competitive districts and even fewer opposition party districts. By spreading out and diluting the opposition party’s base of voters…they are rigging the game in their favor.
Whenever a legislator speaks out or votes against a party leader’s agenda they are punished. First through loss of access to party resources and ultimately by being drawn out of their home district where they are liked by the voters. They’ll see that just enough of their district, including their residence, has been moved into a nearby district where the incumbent has a much larger voting block. Ensuring they are not reelected.
We’ll likely see this in the maps being drawn this year. Keep an eye on how the map for the 9th Congressional district and Indiana House districts 22 and 93 end up.
“Why should I bother voting? It doesn’t matter… nothing changes.”
When communities are split and their voting power is diluted they tend to become disenfranchised and apathetic towards not just voting, but in government in general. If they have no voice, why should they be engaged?
Indiana Statewide Voter Turnout:
- 2019 Municipal/local: 23%
- 2018 Midterm: 51%
- 2016 Presidential: 58%
- 2014 Midterm: 30%
- 2012 Presidential: 58% (new maps)
- 2010 Midterm: 41%
States that utilize a non-partisan redistricting commision on average have some of the highest voter turnout in the country.
If politicians don’t have to compete to win, then they don’t really have to answer to the voter for their actions or lack of action.
For instance, nearly 70% of Hoosiers support legalizing both medical cannabis usage and constitutional carry (permitless gun rights). Yet the Indiana legislature has refused to seriously consider either issue.
In the 2020 election 9 of the 25 State Senators up for election and 31 of the 100 State Reps had NO OPPONENT! 32% of the legislators elected last year had no one challenge them. Why? Because they are in a “safe” district.
The Solution
If you want to work to affect political or social change it is extremely difficult if your neighbor across the street has a different State Representative, State Senator, and U.S. Congressperson than you do, and the neighborhood next door has at least one of those that is different as well. Trying to find those that you need to band together with to express your needs should be as easy as walking out your front door and talking to your neighbors knowing that you are all represented by the same people.
We purpose that districts maps should be based on the following factors (in order), and NOT political partisan games:
- School Districts
- Geographical Identities (counties, cities, towns, zip codes, and area codes)
- Media Markets
- Highway Corridors
- Local Economies
- Census Blocks
School districts provide a shared sense of identity. They are how we see ourselves and our future, and the future of our children. You buy and wear t-shirts of your school and sports team to show your identification with the school, and to let others see you as a part of the group.
Using existing community contours, such as school districts and municipalities, or subdivisions, such as townships, to draw sensible districts best reflect the lives, needs, and interests of these communities. We seek to identify whole communities, so that communities choose their leaders.
Do NOT use voting precincts, because those can be manipulated by politicians.
“One team should NOT be able to pick the rules AND the players.”
These are the key factors that should go into creating a Non-Partisan Independent Redistricting Commission:
- Independence from Legislators
- Nonpartisan
- Minority and Community Input
- Public Input
- Compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965
“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead
We have an opportunity, right now, to change how and who draws our new district maps. If we fail to act, we will be saddled with safe districts, lack luster elections, and disenfranchised voters for another 10 years.
What can I do?
There are three things that you can do today that can help shift the tide:
- Take a look at our proposed district maps (based on school districts and geographical identities), compare them to the current maps, and create and submit your own map idea. Click Here
- Participate in our Call To Action by sending an email to your legislators calling on them to support the Rethink Redistricting plan. Click Here
- Tell your friends, family, neighbors, people in the checkout line, anyone and everyone about Rethink Redistricting and the importance of the process.
The Rethink Redistricting project is sponsored by Libertarian Party of Indiana (LPIN). We believe in voter choice and that starts with legitimate political districts that aren’t draw with partisan intentions. The Libertarian Party is the fastest growing political party in the United States. Millions of Americans have voted for Libertarian Party candidates in past elections throughout the country, despite the fact that many state governments place roadblocks in our path to keep our candidates off the ballot and deprive voters of a real choice. The Libertarian Party of Indiana is the choice for Hoosiers that want Peace, Prosperity, and Freedom.