Redistricting Done Fairly?
Dear Editor,
I’m concerned that the redrawing of Indiana district lines based on the 2020 census data be done fairly (not favoring one party over the other). I urge the Indiana House and Senate committees responsible for this activity to seek input for these district lines primarily from non-partisan groups with big-data experience.
It isn’t appropriate to hire a consulting firm as a major source of redistricting input if that firm always works in favor of one party. Our senators and representatives should be elected/re-elected because of their legislative platform and performance, not because district lines have been drawn to virtually eliminate the chances of the opposing party.
Unfairly drawn district lines push us farther away from being a true democracy. Many statistics on poor voter turnout in our area and Indiana as a whole were cited at the August 7 meeting in Elkhart by the House Committee on Elections and Apportionment and the Senate Committee on Elections. We don’t need anything that will lead to voter apathy! Indiana is 42nd in voter turnout in the United States. We need to find ways to increase voter turnout, not depress it by making voters feel their votes don’t count because their district is drastically skewed toward one party.
Another state tour should be conducted to review the new proposed district lines/maps once the lines have been drawn so the public can be informed of what’s being considered before it gets set in stone. These decisions must not be made behind closed committee doors.
We all deserve an Indiana that has fairly drawn districts because that will result in fair elections. We need to create balance in our government because that will lead to better laws and outcomes for all Hoosiers.
Lina Blosser
Goshen