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 Oregon
Process
State Legislature
Oregon's state legislative and congressional district lines are drawn by the 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. If the Legislature fails to adopt a plan, the Secretary of State assumes redistricting authority.
Criteria
In addition to the federal requirements of one person, one vote and the Voting Rights Act, Oregon’s state constitution (Art. IV § 7) requires that state legislative districts be contiguous. State statutes (Stat. § 188.010) further require that state legislative and congressional districts preserve political subdivisions and communities of interest, and be connected by “transportation links.” Additionally, intentionally favoring an incumbent, party, or candidate for office is prohibited, as is drawing districts “for the purpose of diluting the voting strength of any language or ethnic minority group.”
Public Input
In 2011, the joint legislative committees on redistricting held thirteen hearings between March and April.
In 2016, the Oregon Legislature passed a law to increase the amount of public input and transparency in the redistricting process. First, the Legislature must hold at least 10 public hearings, at least one per congressional district. Further, the Legislature or the Secretary of State must hold five hearings after publishing a preliminary plan. Lastly, this new law requires that either the Legislature or Secretary provide adequate notice of hearings, allow for remote testimony, and prioritize hearings in areas with the largest population shifts.
Issues
Pitfalls
Both chambers of the Legislature and the Governorship are controlled by Democrats. If single-party control remains when it is time to draw new maps and no process reforms have been adopted, there will be an increased risk of partisan gerrymandering.
Congressional Seats
Based upon a recent estimate of congressional seat changes following the 2020 census, Oregon is estimated to gain one congressional seat.
Census Delays
- State legislative redistricting plan deadline: July 1, 2021 (Art. IV, § 6)
- Secretary of State adoption deadline: August 15, 2021
- Congressional redistricting plan deadline: no statutory deadline
The Census Bureau may delay sending population data to states until as late as July 31, 2021. In the case of delay, it would be impossible for the Legislature to meet its deadline for state legislative redistricting, and the authority would fall to the Secretary of State. Even so, the deadline is very tight, with only two weeks to complete redistricting. Formal action may be necessary to adjust redistricting deadlines. There is no statutory deadline for congressional redistricting; a special session may be necessary to complete the process.
Reform
People Not Politicians’ IP 57 fell short of making it on the November ballot. The initiative would have created significant reform to Oregon’s redistricting process, and may still serve as a template for future efforts.
- The initiative would create a 12-member independent citizen commission. To briefly summarize the selection process, a panel of three administrative law judges narrows down to three pools of 50 qualified and diverse applicants, divided by partisan category; from each pool, the Secretary of State randomly selects two commissioners. These six then choose six more (two per partisan category) by a majority vote that must include one vote per partisan category.
- Once selected, the commission would choose a chair and vice-chair, who must be from different partisan categories. Final approval of maps would require a majority with at least one vote per partisan category, and include a report detailing the commission's rationale. If the commission fails to approve a map, any group of four commissioners across parties may submit a plan to the state Supreme Court.
- The commission would hold at least ten public hearings prior to a map being drafted and five after drafting but before approval, including at least one hearing per congressional district, one hearing per state region, and one hearing at each stage in areas with the largest population shifts. There must be prior notice, and all records must be made publicly available.
- The initiative would enshrine redistricting criteria requiring (1) compliance with state and federal law, population equality, and contiguity; (2) the minimization of splitting localities and communities of interest; (3) maximizing competitiveness (the ability to translate support into representation). The initiative would also prohibit the favoring/disfavoring of an incumbent, candidate, or party and the dilution of the voting strength of language and ethnic minorities.
Actions
In 2020, support state legislative candidates who favor fair districting. The entire Oregon House and half of the Oregon Senate will be up for re-election.
In 2021, participate in the public input process.
- Obtain Oregon 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.
Contacts
Data provided by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project