Support Fair Redistricting

What Is Fair Redistricting?

Redistricting is the way new voting boundaries are drawn, including for Congress, state legislatures and (in NM) the Public Education Commission. When those boundaries are manipulated for political gain or to discriminate against certain groups, that's gerrymandering.

The core tenets of redistricting reform in our state are based on findings of a statewide task force, organized in 2020 by the nonpartisan New Mexico First and co-chaired by two retired judges.

Among other things, the task force (comprised of Democrats, Republicans and Independents) called for:

Treating communities fairly
Authentically engaging the public in the redistricting process
Requiring decisions to be reached in the open, not in closed caucuses focused on partisan advantage

The complete platform offers 18 detailed recommendations.

Why Now?

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census counts the population, and states draws new voting districts based on that data. However, past redistricting efforts in NM were considered, by many people, unfair. They ended up in the courts, costing taxpayers millions in legal fees.

The redistricting process will next take place in summer and fall 2021.

SB15 makes a strong start.
Right now, Senate Bill 15 is under consideration by the N.M. Legislature. It offers a number of reforms stakeholders have called for, including:

A citizen committee to consider public input and draft a set of maps
More rigorous criteria than the rules used in 2011 that provide better protection for previously disadvantaged groups and independent voters

However, SB15 needs to be amended right away.
Unlike previously drafted legislation (HB211 and SB199), the current version allows lawmakers to amend the maps submitted by the citizen committee. This is not ideal.

Redistricting advocates recommend four important amendments help the process retain voter trust:

Fair voting opportunities for residents of Navajo Nation by allowing split precincts to preserve communities of interest
Limitations on the use of partisan data to draw maps
Limitations on the use of incumbents’ home addresses
Requiring the Legislature to publish written evaluations of its final redistricting plans, including how they align with redistricting criteria