Most people are not aware of the importance of the maps that control who represents them in the state assembly and in Congress. The public hearings that are now being held around the state, as well as virtually, are a good start to inform and receive input from the public. But more needs to be done to alert the public to the process. The regular emails that representatives send to constituents as well as media coverage would be great places to begin.

In a testimonial before the Reapportionment Committee on September 9, League of Women Voters members requested that the committee tell people how these maps are created. We also asked what criteria are being used to draw the new maps based on the 2020 census data. We’d like to know how we find out what these criteria are? Also, how will the population changes affect Congressional District 2, which is geographically the largest district in the state?

What is the effect of the change to the way incarcerated people are counted? Have the maps been drawn already? How and when will the public have access to the maps? We question why one of the data files posted on the committee website consists of the addresses of incumbents. Why is that information of particular importance and how will it be used in determining new district lines?

We appreciate that the committee has stated that a fair process will be carried out by non-partisan staff. However, to make this process truly fair and non-partisan, we believe it should be carried out by a committee of citizens who are not beholden to politicians in any way. The process outlined by the committee has not worked within constitutional deadlines for all districts since 1981, according to the National Conference of State Legislators.

We respectfully request that greater efforts be made to alert the public to redistricting than is currently happening as well as informing the public as to how decisions within that process are made. And as a long-range goal, we urge the reapportionment committee to start the process of changing the constitution to allow the redistricting process to be non-political.

Dr. Kimberly Blake is the co-president of the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut. Irene Weiss is the chair of Voter Services/Advocacy Committees, LWV of Southeastern Connecticut. Blake delivered these remarks to the legislative Reapportionment Committee in Norwich, Sept. 9.