RALEIGH – State lawmakers today introduced the Fair Maps Act (House Bill 9), a proposal to implement lasting redistricting reform and end gerrymandering in North Carolina.

The Fair Maps Act would amend North Carolina’s Constitution to permanently take redistricting power out of the hands of partisan legislators and entrust it with an independent commission comprised of everyday North Carolinians to draw the state’s voting districts free from political influence.

If passed by the NC General Assembly, the proposed constitutional amendment would be placed before voters statewide in 2024. If ultimately approved by voters, the citizens commission would be established to oversee North Carolina’s redistricting process thereafter. The citizens redistricting commission would have an equal number of Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated voters.

Primary sponsors of the Fair Maps Act include Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford), Rep. Robert Reives (D-Chatham, Randolph), Rep. Marcia Morey (D-Durham), and Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams (D-Cabarrus).

“Our bill proposes a citizen-driven process that will restore faith in our state legislature and the actions it takes because it will be truly representative,” Rep. Harrison said.

“The legislature should serve all North Carolinians, regardless of party,” Rep. Reives said. “One of the best ways we can do that is by passing the Fair Maps Act to ensure we have a government that works for everyone.”

“Gerrymandering violates the freedom of North Carolina voters to have a voice in choosing their representatives,” Rep. Morey said. “It’s time to end gerrymandering for good and respect the rights of voters by passing the Fair Maps Act.”

“North Carolina’s voting districts don’t belong to politicians, they belong to the people,” Rep. Staton-Williams said. “The Fair Maps Act would establish a common-sense redistricting process that puts people over politics.”

Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, applauded the bill’s sponsors for introducing the Fair Maps Act to provide lasting, nonpartisan reform that would end gerrymandering.

“The courts have made it clear that gerrymandering is unconstitutional in North Carolina and the public overwhelmingly wants nonpartisan redistricting,” Mr. Phillips said. “We urge members of both parties to put the rights of North Carolinians above partisan politics by passing the Fair Maps Act.”

About the Fair Maps Act:

• The Fair Maps Act would amend North Carolina’s Constitution to create a citizens redistricting commission.
• Kung pinagtibay ng NC General Assembly, ang iminungkahing pagbabago sa konstitusyon ay ilalagay sa harap ng mga botante ng North Carolina sa buong estado sa 2024. At kung maaprubahan ng mga botante, ang komisyon sa muling pagdistrito ng mga mamamayan ay magiging responsable para sa anumang pagbabago sa pambatasan o kongreso pagkatapos noon.
• Ang komisyon sa pagbabago ng distrito ng mga mamamayan ay magkakaroon ng huling pag-apruba ng mga distrito; walang magiging papel ang NC General Assembly sa muling distrito.
• The citizens redistricting commission would draw districts that are equal in population, contiguous, and compact, as well as fully complying with the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The commission would strive to avoid splitting counties, municipalities, or communities of interest.
• The commission would have 15 members – five Republicans, five Democrats, and five members who are neither Republicans or Democrats. The bill prohibits lobbyists, major political donors, or relatives of legislators from serving on the commission.
• Ang komisyon ay kakailanganing magdaos ng hindi bababa sa 20 pampublikong pagpupulong – 10 bago iguhit ang plano at 10 pagkatapos malikha ang isang paunang plano ngunit bago ito ma-finalize.
• The commission would make resources available to members of the public to permit them to draw their own maps, understand the process, and submit comments.
• Adoption of a plan would require a vote of at least nine members of the commission, including at least three members from each subgroup (Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated).
• Kung ang komisyon ay hindi makapagpatibay ng isang plano, ito ay kukuha ng isang espesyal na master upang iguhit ang mga distrito.

Common Cause Ang North Carolina ay isang nonpartisan, grassroots na organisasyon na nakatuon sa pagtataguyod ng mga pangunahing halaga ng demokrasya ng Amerika. Nagtatrabaho kami upang lumikha ng bukas, tapat, at may pananagutan na pamahalaan na nagsisilbi sa interes ng publiko; itaguyod ang pantay na karapatan, pagkakataon, at representasyon para sa lahat; at bigyan ng kapangyarihan ang lahat ng tao na iparinig ang kanilang mga boses sa prosesong pampulitika.