RALEIGH – State lawmakers today introduced the Fair Maps Act (众议院第 9 号法案), 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. 菲利普斯 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.
• 如果获得北卡罗来纳州议会通过，拟议的宪法修正案将于 2024 年提交北卡罗来纳州全州选民审议。如果获得选民批准，公民选区重新划分委员会将负责此后的任何立法或国会选区重新划分。
• 公民选区重划委员会将对选区拥有最终批准权；北卡罗来纳州议会在选区重划中不发挥任何作用。
• 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.
• 该委员会必须召开至少 20 次公开会议——其中 10 次在制定计划前，另外 10 次在初步计划制定之后但最终确定之前。
• 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).
• 如果委员会无法通过计划，它将聘请特别法官来划分选区。

北卡罗来纳州共同事业组织是一个无党派的草根组织，致力于维护美国民主的核心价值观。我们致力于创建服务于公众利益的开放、诚实和负责任的政府；促进所有人享有平等的权利、机会和代表权；并赋予所有人在政治进程中发出声音的权利。