League of Women Voters of Washington: Redistricting update must get done in 2020.

We have an opportunity once every 10 years for our state to make any changes in Washington’s redistricting process. Now, in the 2020 legislative session, is our last chance to modify the process until 2030. The League of Women Voters of Washington urges support of House Bill 2575, which includes reforms to increase transparency and accountability of the Washington redistricting commission. The Washington House of Representatives passed HB 2575 (57-41) on Wednesday. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

This bill regarding Washington state’s redistricting process has widespread support. In addition to discussions with our 2,400 League of Women Voters of Washington members, public forums on redistricting with over 1,600 people from across Washington were held. Though many individuals had varying opinions about the redistricting maps, nearly everyone shared similar ideas about the kind of map-drawing process they would trust.

First, the shape of political districts is fundamental to people’s representation in government. To the greatest extent possible, people from across the state want to have a role in the drafting and revision of the political maps. When the state’s five-member, bipartisan commission holds public forums to solicit input, people say they wanted to know about these meetings, be able to attend, provide input regardless of where they live, and be able to testify in their preferred language. This bill addresses those concerns, and has provisions that give people with limited English a better chance to engage with the commission by requiring reasonable translation services and notices of meetings and reports in the major languages spoken in our state. HB 2575 makes the process work for more people.

Second, people want to know the commission’s clear, consistent priorities from the outset. And in the end, people want to know whether the criteria and objectives were met. People want time to look at preliminary maps, to know what data was used, to give comprehensive feedback, and to know that feedback will be considered.

Third, people want commissioners who listen, focus on this complex task and are given every opportunity to do the job right in just 10.5 months. HB 2575 makes our redistricting commission even better by getting them started earlier, creating full-time commissioners, and defining the necessary public input process.

We know that transparency and public accountability measures go a long way toward having fair maps. When more people understand and are involved in the process, we get stronger trust in government and stronger communities. The entire process must be straightforward, open and transparent. Transparency is a powerful tool. People trust what they can see. This should be the case with redistricting.

Democracy is much more than voting; it is being engaged in civic life. Civic life includes having information about decisions and how they are made, being fully educated about issues, and being able to participate in the decision-making that impacts our lives. The changes to the redistricting bill move us in that direction.

Washington has one of the best election systems in the country. If it isn’t broken, some say, don’t fix it. Yet in the next 10 years we will experience population increases, growing energy challenges and escalating challenges due to fire and water. Our system is good for now, but it must be good for later. This is the time to prepare for what is coming. Community participation in redistricting will help. Let’s not regret that we didn’t do this when we had the chance.

For all these reasons, the League of Women Voters of Washington, a leader in democracy for 100 years, enthusiastically supports HB 2575. We continue to research, educate and promote equal representation and government transparency. We urge the state Legislature to lead in redistricting and pass HB 2575. Please take one more step toward a more transparent and accountable redistricting process that works for everyone.