Common Course lawsuit, Common Cause v. Rucho, is now headed for the U.S. Supreme Court and could End Partisan Gerrymandering Nationwide. And even while they Battle in Court, they stepped up their State-by-State Grassroots organizing to Pass Impartial Redistricting Reforms to keep the momentum going and growing, including Major Reform wins at the Ballot Box just last month.
Just one example from the 2018 Elections that illustrates why this work is so important: in Ohio, Voters are pretty Evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. But because of how Republicans drew Ohio’s District Maps for their Own Advantage, they Locked in a Supermajority in the Legislature, once again short circuiting the Will of the Voters.
Gerrymandering lets a few Partisan Politicians lock in an Advantage by Abusing their Control of the Redistricting process, and Denies Voters like their Right to Fair Representation and a Meaningful Choice at the Polls.
Here’s how they Fight Back:
Action #1: Landmark North Carolina Lawsuit, Common Cause v. Rucho, will likely reach the Supreme Court this Term. The Decisive Evidence in this Case: a State Legislator Openly bragging at a Public Hearing about Drawing Voter Maps for Partisan Advantage to Minimize the Election of Democrats.
Action #2: Common Course is Staffing up their Redistricting Team so they can Engage in Multiple Lower Court fights for Fair Maps. That Legal Strategy, is already paying off, earlier this year, they Recruited Plaintiffs to successfully overturn Pennsylvania’s Gerrymandered Congressional Map, so Voters could Cast their Votes in Fairer, more Representative Districts in the Midterm Elections.
Action #3: They are Actively involved in Legal Challenges to Gerrymandering in States like: Maryland, Virginia, Wisconsin, and elsewhere. Any of these Cases could deliver what they have been working towards for years: a Decisive Court Ruling that Partisan Gerrymandering anywhere is Unconstitutional. Such a Decision could End this shameful Practice for good.
This year, Common Cause helped Pass Groundbreaking Anti-Gerrymandering Ballot Measures in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Utah. Voters know there’s something fundamentally Wrong with letting Politicians Pick and Choose their Voters, and they’re willing to Translate their Concern into Action at the Ballot Box.
They are also working on Redistricting Reforms in States like: Georgia, Indiana, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. They are employing every Tool in their Toolbox. From the Ballot Initiative process, to Local and State Referendums, Lobbying Legislatures, Litigating and Organizing.
Wherever and Whenever Maps are being Drawn Unfairly, we must Respond.
CLICK HERE for more information on how Common Cause is working to Fight Gerrymandering in the U.S.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment