​The Governor has called a special legislative session from April 20-24. This is usually the week when U.S. congressional candidates file their paperwork to qualify with the Florida Division of Elections for the primary and general elections. Obviously, this won't happen, since we don't even know the boundaries of the 28 congressional districts.

 

The League has been working for fair districting since 1939, and in 2010 we were a leading member of the Fair Districts coalition that worked to pass the Fair Districts Amendments.

 

We urge voters to say "NO" to our legislators on midterm redistricting. Floridians voted for fair districts in 2010 to curb partisan manipulation. Redrawing boundaries now for partisan advantages goes against the will of the people and our State Constitution, which specifically states that "congressional districts or apportionment plans may not be drawn to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party."

 

Redistricting in the middle of the decade, without new Census data, ignores the will of the voters, undermines the State Constitution, and contradicts our democratic principles of fair voting.

​

Frequent changes to district boundaries confuse voters and weaken the relationship between communities and their elected officials. Floridians deserve to see and comment on proposed maps before a single boundary is altered.

 

Allowing a redistribution of districts mid-decade puts us on a path of endless political mapping.

​

This would erode confidence in elections, create instability, and make it difficult for voters to have consistent representation.

 

Florida families are worried about urgent issues like soaring insurance, housing, and infrastructure costs. Taxpayer money should be used to address these problems, not for unnecessary redistricting. The last redistricting process cost taxpayers millions of dollars. We don't need to waste valuable state resources on an unnecessary, partisan, mid-decade effort.

 

Let's simply say "no" to redistricting in the middle of the decade!  

Monica Elliott.

League of Women Voters of Broward County.