League of Women Voters Vows to Fight for Fair Maps
Major changes to Missouri’s redistricting process are part of a proposal on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. The League of Women Voters opposes Amendment 3, which would eliminate the nonpartisan state demographer established just two years ago and return the state to the use of commissions appointed by the governor for legislative redistricting (See more at Ballotpedia.)
Clean Missouri: In 2018, Missouri voters overwhelmingly passed Amendment 1, known as Clean Missouri, and it became part of the Missouri Constitution. Its redistricting reforms ensure that neither political party gets an unfair advantage when district maps are drawn.
Evelyn Maddox, president of the League of Women Voters of Missouri, said, “League members across the state worked to educate voters about Clean Missouri’s redistricting reforms in 2018 and we’re confident voters will reject this outrageous incumbent-protection measure in 2020.”
Gerrymandering: Amendment 3 includes language that could make Missouri the only state not using total population to draw legislative maps after the 2020 Census. “This gerrymandering plan gives political parties more power and opens the door to a process that doesn’t count anyone under age 18 or non-citizens when drawing district maps,” said Maddox. “They deserve representation and services just as much as registered voters.”
Maddox submitted written testimony to a public hearing at the state capitol on Amendment 3 this spring. “Please do not support this effort to allow unprecedented racial and partisan gerrymandering in Missouri. We want fair maps to protect Missouri voters and make sure each vote counts.”
While Clean Missouri calls for fair maps, Amendment 3 would allow maps to be rigged to protect incumbent politicians. Learn more with this redistricting fact sheet. produced by the League of Women Voters of Missouri.
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