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Be represented in redistricting

In 1874, the people of the state of Arkansas ratified a new constitution. The first part of Article 2, Section 1 (Authority of Government) reads: “All political power is inherent in the people, and government is instituted for their protection, security and benefit.” Saying this in a way where our children can understand it, we would simply say, “They work for us, at our pleasure.”

This is something to keep in mind during this present redistricting process that only happens every 10 years.

The historical purpose of redistricting is to ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to be represented in the U.S. Congress. During this process of apportioning congressional representation based on current population statistics, the foundation upon which redistricting rests can be shaken if we are not careful. That foundation is the right to vote. Every single one of the three million Arkansans included in the

2020 U.S. Census count has the constitutional responsibility to ensure that this foundation stays secure through a redistricting process that seeks to draw fair, equitable, and competitive districts—regardless of political persuasion. It is every Arkansan’s civic duty to be involved in redistricting on every level: congressional, legislative, justice of the peace, municipal, or school board.

Fair, equitable, and competitive maps teach our children that there is a level field of friendly competition for any Arkansan that feels called to seek any elective office to share their worldview and fight for the issues that matter to them.

Fair, equitable, and competitive maps ignite hope in Arkansans who do not identify as white but envision themselves as one day leading our state from the ranks of the 21 states that have never elected a non-white congressperson. Arkansas is the last remaining former Confederate state on this list.

There are criteria that map drawers are required to adhere to in order to create fair, equitable, and competitive maps. These criteria guide the creation of maps with districts that are, as much as possible: (1) equal-sized, (2) polygon-shaped, (3) respectful of county/municipal borders, and (4) respectful of communities that share a common interest.

Also, whenever possible, a fifth criterion adds that a district be drawn to encompass a non-white and/or a non-English-speaking majority population. But this can only be done once the map drawer adheres to the first four criteria.

Of these criteria, the fourth governing communities of interests is the one that ensures that Arkansans can properly invoke Article 2, Section 1, as listed above. This criterion allows all Arkansans to submit to all redistricting bodies a report of who is in their community of interest and where they live together as a community, i.e., a religious congregation, a fraternal association, a neighborhood school, and even a political party.

Once a redistricting body receives this information, it is bound to respect it by doing everything that it can to keep that community of interest intact. And, if it does not, any member of that community of interest can file suit in the state Supreme Court to prevent the map from going into effect.

The two redistricting bodies that are currently drawing maps are the Arkansas Legislature and the Board of Apportionment. The Legislature is tasked with drawing the four congressional districts. The board is tasked with drawing the 35 state Senate districts and the 100 state House districts.

And, when the U.S. Census Bureau finally releases its official population count on Thursday, the work of these two redistricting bodies will kick into high gear to beat their Dec. 31 deadline.

The question is: Have you, a dutiful and responsible Arkansan, submitted to these redistricting bodies your community of interest report? Have you made known to your elected representatives what you expect them to do to ensure that all Arkansans can hold their heads high, for once, knowing that our state has the fairest, most equitable, and most competitive maps capable of being drawn?

If not, it is not too late to do so. Simply go to APJMM.news/ARedistrictingFairMaps and answer 10 questions, and your community of interest report is complete and can be sent to the redistricting bodies by pressing send. Anyone can do this, as voting age is not a requirement to participate, so make sure that your children and their schools also submit community of interest reports.

Maps that solidify environments of unfairness, inequity, and lack of competition for the next 10 years are maps that serve only the map drawers, not all Arkansans. Maps should not be political action statements. Maps should only show us where we are right now as a people, and where we can go together if we all enjoy limitless possibilities.

Exert your power. Save our maps.

Kwami Abdul-Bey (APJMM2019@gmail.com) is a redistricting cartographer with the Arkansas Fair and Equitable Mapping Awareness, Planning and Action Team that encourages Arkansans to submit community of interest reports. Loriee Evans (loriee@indivisiblelrca.org) is an organizer with Indivisible Little Rock and Central Arkansas, which registers and educates voters, and holds elected officials accountable to voters.