SLAY THE DRAGON follows everyday people, outraged by what they see as an attack on the core democratic principle that every person’s vote should count equally. This election year, we’re joining together with grassroots partners to put an end to gerrymandering. Because this issue impacts each state differently, we’ve created a map to help you navigate how gerrymandering affects your state and community. SLAY THE DRAGON arrives on demand April 3.
Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.
Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.
SLAY THE DRAGON follows everyday people, outraged by what they see as an attack on the core democratic principle that every person’s vote should count equally. This election year, we’re joining together with grassroots partners to put an end to gerrymandering. Because this issue impacts each state differently, we’ve created a map to help you navigate how gerrymandering affects your state and community. SLAY THE DRAGON arrives on demand April 3.
Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.
Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.
What’s going on in Kentucky
Process
State Legislature
Kentucky's state legislative and congressional districts are drawn by the state Legislature by ordinary statute, and are subject to the Governor's veto. The Legislature can override vetoes with a simple majority vote in each chamber.
Criteria
In addition to the federal requirements of one person, one vote and the Voting Rights Act, Kentucky’s state constitution (Leg. § 33) requires that state legislative and congressional districts be contiguous and avoid county splits. Additionally, Kentucky adopted guidelines in 1991 that preserved communities of interest in congressional redistricting. It is unclear if those guidelines have been readopted.
Public Input
No public hearings are required by Kentucky law, and it appears that none were held in the 2011 redistricting cycle.
Issues
Pitfalls
Kentucky presents a challenging case for advocates of fair districting. There is no public input process, and redistricting is under single-party control. Even with a Democrat as governor, Republicans can override a veto to a redistricting plan by a simple majority vote.
Census Delays
- State legislative redistricting plan deadline: end of first general session in 2022; likely mid-April, based on previous sessions (Leg. § 33)
- Congressional redistricting plan deadline: no statutory deadline
The Census Bureau may delay sending population data to states until as late as July 31, 2021. As Kentucky has a late deadline for state legislative redistricting and no statutory deadline for congressional redistricting, the data delay should have little to no impact. Still, a special session may need to be held to complete redistricting before candidate filing and elections.
Reform
House Bill 326, also known as the Fair Maps Act, was filed in the Kentucky Legislature in January 2020. The Act would have created a 15-member Advisory Redistricting Commission to draw maps for referral to the General Assembly. The bill died in committee in April.
History
In the 2011 redistricting cycle, Kentucky faced several legal challenges:
- In Fischer v. Grimes, plaintiffs challenged the state legislative districts on the basis of unequal population, partisan gerrymandering, and state constitutional violations. The trial court found that the legislative plans did violate equal population and unnecessarily split counties; the Legislature was ordered to redraw maps, and the 2012 elections proceeded with the 2002 plan. The state Supreme Court affirmed the decision.
- In Brown v. Kentucky, plaintiffs sued in federal court over the Legislature’s failure to redraw lines, citing dilution of voting power due to malapportionment. Plaintiffs chose not to contest after new lines were drawn in a special session in August 2013.
Actions
In 2020, support state legislative candidates who favor fair districting.
- The entire state Legislature is up for re-election in 2020. A majority-reform coalition or split control of state power could check the worst gerrymandering impulses in 2021.
Support reform efforts to create a redistricting advisory commission by partnering with organizations like the League of Women Voters of Kentucky and contacting your representatives.
- Read the Common Cause Activist Handbook on Redistricting Reform to learn about what reforms have been successful in the past, and what steps to take to enact reform in the future.
Contacts
Data provided by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project