Before this year, in the last 25 years there have only been a few rare occasions where state governments conducted mid-decade redistricting with reasons ranging from legislative disputes, legal challenges and a shift in partisan control.
Until recently, mid-decade redistricting hasn’t happened because a President asked a Governor to do their bidding.
This is not what democracy looks like–it also isn’t what merit, excellence or innovation should mean.
In 2020, Indiana had free and fair elections where Hoosiers voted for elected officials who would ultimately decide on new maps. We had a process for redrawing maps. No one has claimed that the current districts are flawed—they are merely politically inconvenient for The White House.
Mid-census redistricting violates Hoosier values of fair play and plain decency. For elected officials to pick their voters instead of the people electing their representatives is not what Hoosiers want.
Polling has been consistent with one of the more recent polls reported on by The Indiana Capital Chronicle finding that 53% of registered voters opposed mid-census redistricting.
Why This Matters to Our Community
Redistricting before the next census will reduce the political voices of Black, Hispanic, and urban Hoosiers in Indiana.
The 1st and 7th Congressional Districts happen to be in the more diverse areas of the state and will be significantly changed under mid-decade redistricting.
The 7th Congressional District, located in a majority person of color county is 30.8% Black and 15.8% Hispanic while the 1st Congressional District, located in Northwest Indiana has the state’s highest Hispanic population, as well as a large, Black population.
Call to Action
We who believe in freedom must not rest! We are asking our community to do the following:
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