As a New Hampshire citizen and voter, I demand that our state government draw fair maps that represent the interests of every Granite Stater—not self-interested politicians. I am concerned that without a fair redistricting process, the future of my roadways, schools, healthcare, and more things I care about will be negatively impacted.
To date, the redistricting process has been held largely behind closed doors, with politicians drawing maps that benefit their party's hold on power and not representing us, the people. We saw this following the 2010 elections, where a heavily gerrymandered (unfair) map was introduced that favored the majority party and their electoral chances for the next decade. This is not the way to protect and build a strong, vibrant, and trustworthy democracy, where voters choose their elected leaders - not the other way around.
That is why Republican, Democratic, and Independent voters in over 70 towns and cities in our state have passed resolutions calling on you - the legislature - to run a transparent process where the public has a strong voice to ensure fair maps are drawn.
The requests below represent the bare minimum that will help fair maps get drawn and ensure the public's trust in our elections:
- The committee must hold at least one public meeting in each county prior to drawing any maps and at least one public meeting in each county after releasing any proposed maps.
- The committee must create an online portal to allow the public to find scheduled meetings, submit alternative maps and plans, submit written comments, and view written comments and maps submitted by others.
- The committee must immediately make any census data provided to them available to the public.
- The committee must strictly follow criteria for map drawing, including complying with the U.S. Constitution, N.H. Constitution, and all applicable federal and state laws, drawing maps on the basis of total population, considering the integrity of communities of interest (like racial, ethnic, economic, social, cultural, geographic, or historic identities), and ensuring that districts are drawn in compact shapes that avoid jagged edges, extensions, and are single boundaries that are not bisected or divided.