Let’s go back to the time when leaders really cared Gerrymandering is the bane of fair elections
Gone are the days when the United States of America was strong and united. Our leaders took care of the people. They worked out agreements to protect and preserve our values.
Gone are the politicians like Sens. Mike Mansfield and Everett Dirksen who worked together to keep America strong. They put their differences aside for the good of their fellow man.
Don’t you think it is time to get back to those days when America cared about its people? Took care of those in need? Took care of those who needed direction, those who needed a hand up, not a hand out?
It’s time for our representatives to stop fighting among themselves and do what they were sent to Washington to do — represent the people who sent them to Washington.
David Henderson, Galloway
If this past election has taught us anything, it’s that each of our votes truly matters and must be counted. To make sure that a fair election process happens every time, we must have fair electoral maps and end the practice of gerrymandering. We all need to play an active role in how our political maps are drawn during the upcoming redistricting process.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing our districts to reflect the change in our population recorded by the U.S. Census, which occurs every 10 years. Gerrymandering happens when politicians manipulate this process in order to draw electoral maps that ensure their party wins more districts, which are out of proportion to the actual percentage of the population. Gerrymandering changes the value and weight of every vote. It’s unfair and it’s cheating — no matter which party tries it.
Our political system is broken and politicians are making it worse by using gerrymandering to ensure they get reelected. Gerrymandering contributes to hyper-partisanship in our politics and allows politicians to pander to special interests but ignore the people they represent.
2021 is an important year because we the people can call and lobby our elected officials as they draw maps. We can demand and attend hearings. We can make it known that it’s time to end gerrymandering. I’m asking my neighbors to join me and push for fair maps.
Rebecca Garrett, Columbus