Redistricting 101

If you are in it to win it, you need to know what is at stake— in the redistricting process that is. We have put together some resources to help you create a video that promotes the “Voters’ Choice” of representatives by a fair and transparent redistricting process in Kentucky and explains why redistricting matters to you and your community. Below is a brief introductory video and also a short synopsis of the issue to help you create your winning TikTok video!

What is Redistricting and Why does it matter?

The League of Women Voters of KY believes that voters should choose their representatives; elected officials should not choose their voters!

Legislative maps determine which citizens will be grouped together to vote for a representative. As the population changes, maps must be redrawn to ensure that districts remain equal in population, ensuring each person’s vote has equal weight. This process, called redistricting, occurs every ten years and is based on the U.S. Census results. Redrawing legislative lines ensures that all districts have roughly the same number of voters, correcting imbalances when one area has population growth and another has population decline.  Since this process only occurs every ten years, once the maps are drawn, they are locked in until the next set of Census data are released— even if the  population changes.

Who is in charge of drawing the maps?

In Kentucky, legislators are responsible.  You may be asking: If legislators are in charge of drawing the maps that determine whether they get reelected, or whether their party continues to hold power, wouldn’t there be an incentive for them to draw maps to ensure they win the next election rather than considering voters’ interests? Wouldn’t choosing voters likely to vote for them be to their advantage, even if that means carving elaborate, strangely shaped districts?  

The short answer is yes. When this happens, it is called “gerrymandering”, named after  Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry; he signed a bill that created a district that resembled the shape of a salamander. Instead of compact, competitive districts that force legislators to compete for their jobs, if districts are gerrymandered legislators can lock in maps that ensure a victory.   For too long, the redistricting process has included gerrymandering of districts to benefit incumbents or to unfairly enhance political preferences. Both Democrats and Republicans have been guilty of this practice. This is a nonpartisan issue; redistricting affects all voters. When legislators ignore voters’ interests for their own political gain, voters lose. 

Gerrymandering 101

Gerrymandering strategies can include:

•  “CRACKING”  districts by dividing up a bloc of voters to dilute voter power; or   

•  “PACKING”  districts by concentrating “opposing” voters, giving up a few districts to be able to create a greater number of so-called “safe” districts that essentially guarantee a win for either incumbents or to gain partisan advantage. 

Both these strategies lead to elections that are less competitive.For example, when districts are “safe,” candidates may choose not to participate in candidate forums or complete voter guides, thus preventing voters from making informed decisions. Instead, voters may tend to rely on name recognition or party affiliation, rather than stances on issues. To avoid public outcry over unfair maps, and strangely shaped districts, legislators often draw maps behind closed doors avoiding scrutiny that would come with public input.

The drawing of district maps does not have to be this way! The League of Women Voters of KY, through our People Powered Fair Maps initiative, is working to inform voters about redistricting and bring awareness to the harm gerrymandering brings to our democracy. We are advocating for transparency and fairness in the redistricting process that includes compact districts and considers the way communities function. We think who is chosen to represent Kentuckians in the legislature should be the “Voters’ Choice” and not manipulated by “Legislator’s Choices”

Enter our TikTok Contest

In our fight for fair maps, the League of Women Voters of Kentucky is sponsoring a video contest, asking young voters (you!) to assist us in this initiative by creating original TikTok videos that promote the “Voters’ Choice” of representatives by a fair and transparent redistricting process in Kentucky and to explain why redistricting matters to you and your community. We are excited to amplify young voters' voices on this issue. A representative government is vital to a functioning and healthy democracy and we want you to be a part of it.  You can learn more about redistricting at LWVKY.org