At least once per decade - usually after the Census - Congressional and state legislative districts are redrawn.
This is necessary because people move, families grow and Federal and State laws require it. Districts are adjusted to ensure that each district has about the same number of people and, as a result, each person has an equal say in the government, as required by the Constitution (One Person, One Vote).
The League of Women Voters supports apportionment of congressional districts and elective legislative bodies based substantially on population. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2010-2012)
Redistricting is not straightforward because there is more at play than the size of the population. Have you ever looked at the shape of your district and wondered how it got that way? Even with equal populations, districts can be drawn to give some people more voting power than others. Redistricting can determine who wins an election. District lines can be drawn in an infinite number of ways, and how they are drawn can effect who is elected. We like to think that voters choose their representatives, but in redistricting, politicians often get to choose their voters.
In Connecticut, the bipartisan Reapportionment Committee, made up of eight legislators, develops the redistricting plan. The committee members are Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams (Co-chair), House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero (Co-chair), Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, Senator Lenorard Fasano, House Speaker Christopher Donovan, Representative Sandy Nafis and Representative Arthur O'Neil. http://www.cga.ct.gov/red2011/
This is necessary because people move, families grow and Federal and State laws require it. Districts are adjusted to ensure that each district has about the same number of people and, as a result, each person has an equal say in the government, as required by the Constitution (One Person, One Vote).
The League of Women Voters supports apportionment of congressional districts and elective legislative bodies based substantially on population. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2010-2012)
Redistricting is not straightforward because there is more at play than the size of the population. Have you ever looked at the shape of your district and wondered how it got that way? Even with equal populations, districts can be drawn to give some people more voting power than others. Redistricting can determine who wins an election. District lines can be drawn in an infinite number of ways, and how they are drawn can effect who is elected. We like to think that voters choose their representatives, but in redistricting, politicians often get to choose their voters.
In Connecticut, the bipartisan Reapportionment Committee, made up of eight legislators, develops the redistricting plan. The committee members are Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams (Co-chair), House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero (Co-chair), Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, Senator Lenorard Fasano, House Speaker Christopher Donovan, Representative Sandy Nafis and Representative Arthur O'Neil. http://www.cga.ct.gov/red2011/
The Committee will be holding a series of public hearings as follows:
Public Hearing Schedule
The boundaries of the district you live in may change. Will they reflect your needs and the needs of your community? Or will they reflect the needs of the political parties? You can help decide.
Work to create better districts. Get involved. Hold the Reapportionment Committee accountable by attending a meeting and by speaking up.
Sincerely,
Pat Donovan, Redistricting Specialist
Public Hearing Schedule
- Thursday, June 30, Norwalk, Community Room, City Hall, 125 East Avenue, 7:00 pm
- Tuesday, July 5, Waterbury, Veterans' Memorial Hall, City Hall, 235 Grand Street, 7:00 pm
- Wednesday, July 6, Norwich, Council Chambers, City Hall, 100 Broadway, 7:00 pm
- Tuesday, July 19, New Haven, Fair Haven Middle School, 164 Grand Avenue, 7:00 pm
- Wednesday, July 20, Hartford, Room 2C, Legislative Office Building, 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
The boundaries of the district you live in may change. Will they reflect your needs and the needs of your community? Or will they reflect the needs of the political parties? You can help decide.
Work to create better districts. Get involved. Hold the Reapportionment Committee accountable by attending a meeting and by speaking up.
Sincerely,
Pat Donovan, Redistricting Specialist
RSS Feed