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 New Mexico
Process
State Legislature
New Mexico'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 two-thirds vote in each chamber.
Criteria
While New Mexico, like all states, must follow the federal requirements of one person, one vote and the Voting Rights Act, its state constitution does not list additional criteria. New Mexico statutes (§§ 2-8D-2, 2-7C-3) require districts to be contiguous and compact, though statutory requirements can be more easily changed by the Legislature. In addition, the Legislature adopted further guidelines for state legislative and congressional districts in the last redistricting cycle. Under these guidelines, districts should preserve communities of interest, respect political subdivisions, and preserve the core of existing districts. The residence of incumbents may be considered.
Public Input
Though New Mexico law does not require public hearings, the legislative redistricting committee held meetings in eight cities between July and August 2011. It is likely that there will be similar opportunities for public input in 2021.
Issues
Pitfalls
Both chambers of the Legislature and the Governorship are controlled by Democrats. If single-party control persists when it is time to draw new maps, there will be an increased risk of partisan gerrymandering.
New Mexico has varied ethnic communities predating the United States. These are unusual and important local circumstances requiring protection in the districting process. In the most recent redistricting cycle, Native American leaders urged legislators to preserve majority-minority districts to protect native representation, presenting redistricting principles and demonstrative maps that respect tribal self-determination.
Census Delays
- State legislative redistricting plan deadline: no statutory deadline
- 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 New Mexico does not have statutory redistricting deadlines, the delay does not require immediate formal action. In recent redistricting cycles, the governor has called a special session in the year ending in one; even with the delay, the Legislature should be able to pass a redistricting plan during a special session.
History
In 2011, the final congressional, state Senate, and state House district maps were all issued by state courts. The New Mexico Supreme Court consolidated all redistricting lawsuits under one case in the 1st Judicial District Court. On December 29, the trial court issued a congressional plan, largely preserving the existing districts. In January 2012, the court issued state Senate and state House plans. However, the state Supreme Court struck down the state House districts, ordering the trial court to reconsider partisan impact and incumbent pairings of the plan, as well as to recognize a district protecting Hispanic voters. The trial court issued a new state House plan on February 27. This legal process for redistricting cost taxpayers $3 million in attorneys’ fees.
Actions
In 2020, support state legislative candidates who favor fair districting. The entire New Mexico Legislature is up for re-election in 2020.
In 2021, participate in the Legislature’s public input process.
- Obtain New Mexico redistricting data from OpenPrecincts.
- Start to plan out what defines your community – whether it’s a shared economic interest, school districts, or other social or other cultural, historical, or economic interests – and how that can be represented on a map. This will come in handy once the Legislature starts collecting feedback.
- Use software tools such as Dave's Redistricting App and Districtr to draw district maps showing either (a) what a fair map would look like, or (b) where the community you believe should be better represented is located. 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.
- Sign the petition to create an Independent Redistricting Commission in New Mexico.
Contacts
Data provided by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project