The Members Agree with Redistricting Concurrence Statement

At our membership meeting on February 15, our members unanimously agreed with the new redistricting position listed below. It is rather a technical issue, so I want to thank those who attended for recognizing the importance of preserving the principle of “one (wo)man, one vote.”

“Redistricting, or the regular examination of and changes in district lines as population increases or decreases, is essential to our form of government, because it offers the assurance that every person is equally represented in the legislative bodies of each state and the federal Congress. The redistricting process has been of significant interest to the League of Women Voters of Oregon for several decades, but we have been somewhat constrained in our reaction to proposals because the position of the LWVUS that was adopted in 1982 supports only near-equal population and voters rights. This study is designed to give members a better understanding of the Oregon redistricting process and the opportunity to adopt a state position that will enable the League to address proposed legislative redistricting proposals in the future.” Quoted from LWVOR Redistricting Committee

REDISTRICTING CONCURRENCE STATEMENT

Congressional and legislative redistricting should advance the fundamental purposes of representative democracy and a republican form of government by affording the people a meaningful choice in electing their representatives and holding the government accountable to the people.

The League of Women Voters of Oregon believes that the Oregon legislative and congressional redistricting system should be efficient, adequately funded, based on well-defined criteria, subject to a reasonable and effective timetable, and have an open and public process.

A. Any redistricting plan should be based on the following criteria, in rank order:
(1) Adhere to all federal constitutional and legal requirements such as that every district should have equal population, be contiguous, and meet the requirements of the Voting Rights Act;
(2) Promote competitiveness and partisan fairness such that voters are effectively able to hold their public officials accountable, responsible, and responsive; and
(3) Comply with other criteria such as respect for political subdivisions, communities of interest, and geographic barriers.

B. The redistricting plan should be developed by a nonpartisan redistricting authority that functions independently of the Legislature and that may afford the Legislature the opportunity to review the plan and accept or reject it.

C. The Oregon Supreme Court should promptly review and rule on any challenge to a redistricting plan and require adjustments if the criteria have not been met.

D. Oregon should conduct redistricting only once during each decade following the federal census.

 

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