What is gerrymandering?

Every 10 years, North Carolina’s congressional and legislative voting districts are redrawn to account for population changes shown in the latest U.S. census. That’s called redistricting.

But when politicians abuse redistricting and manipulate our voting maps to unfairly cling to their power, that’s called gerrymandering. For decades, politicians have gerrymandered our voting maps in North Carolina.

Gerrymandering threatens our democracy, and especially hurts Black and brown voters in North Carolina, as politicians split up communities, divide neighbors and undermine our freedom to choose our representatives.

We must stand up, speak out and demand fair voting maps for all people, completely free from gerrymandering.

We must defeat any attempts at racist or partisan gerrymandering in North Carolina.

We must break the cycle of partisan legislators trying to rig our maps. To achieve an end to gerrymandering, we need to enact lasting reform. We must permanently take redistricting power out of the hands of politicians. We need to entrust redistricting with an impartial citizens commission for any map drawing moving forward, making sure districts are created with robust public input and full transparency, completely free from gerrymandering.

ADD YOUR VOICE: Sign our petition to support the Fair Maps Act to establish lasting redistricting reform

In America, elections are supposed to represent the will of the people, not the will of politicians.

Here are five things you can do to help end gerrymandering now:

1) Sign the pledge to end gerrymandering in North Carolina.

2) Organize a district meeting in your hometown with your lawmakers to discuss nonpartisan redistricting. Invite your friends and neighbors to attend. Find contact information for your legislators here.

3) Spread the word about nonpartisan redistricting on social media, or write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper calling for an end to gerrymandering in North Carolina.

4) Ask your local government to pass a resolution calling for nonpartisan redistricting. Learn more.

5) Donate to support our fight to end gerrymandering.

Our team is here to help you take action to end gerrymandering. Contact us online or at 919-836-0027.

Together, we can ensure North Carolina has fair voting maps and fair elections!

We need to end gerrymandering for good in North Carolina by creating a citizens redistricting commission to draw fair voting districts that reflect our state, protect communities and put people above politics.

We need the Fair Maps Act.

Introduced in the 2023 legislative session, the Fair Maps Act (House Bill 9) 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.

This legislation provides lasting, nonpartisan reform that would end gerrymandering for good in North Carolina. The Fair Maps Acts would stop the practice of politicians manipulating our voting districts and it would ensure voters have a true voice in choosing their representatives.

VOICE YOUR SUPPORT:
Sign the petition calling on lawmakers to pass 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.
• If adopted by the NC General Assembly, the proposed constitutional amendment would be put before North Carolina voters statewide in 2024. And if approved by voters, the citizens redistricting commission would be responsible for any legislative or congressional redistricting thereafter.
• The citizens redistricting commission would have final approval of districts; there would be no role for the NC General Assembly in redistricting.
• 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.
• The commission would be required to hold at least 20 public meetings – 10 before the plan is drawn and 10 after an initial plan is created but before it is finalized.
• 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).
• If the commission were unable to adopt a plan, it would hire a special master to draw the districts.