Florida League of Women Voters (LWV) today, blasted state legislators for trying to scare and divide citizens with false claims surrounding the Fair Districts amendment.
In a statement, LWV’s President Deirdre Macnab said that the latest scare tactic is the suggestion that the Fair Districts amendment would “conflict with Federal voting laws and hurt minority voting districts”.
That’s not the case. Macnab said that one just has to read the “very simple language”: Districts may not be drawn to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party…or to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. Districts must be contiguous…compact…equal in population as feasible, and…make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries.
“It explains very simply that the standards would not apply in those areas where they would conflict with the National Voting Rights laws: Districts shall not be drawn to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. It also adds that implementation of standards will not occur wherever they conflict with federal law.” Macnab said.
In the League’s view, the Fair Districts amendment would offer greater protection to minority voting districts, as it would ensure that there are standards in the state constitution for elected officials to follow in terms of drawing districts. As it currently stands, there are no standards, no rules and “communities across the states have been drawn and quartered like convicts in the middle ages.”
“It’s time to draw the line on rigged election districts…and on state leaders using false arguments to frighten voters,” says Macnab.
SEE FULL TEXT OF STATEMENT BY FLORIDA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS BELOW
“To quote Ronald Reagan: “There you go again!” There goes our state Legislative leadership trying to frighten and divide our citizens with false claims about what the Fair Districts amendment might do. Their latest lead balloon is that the ballot language would conflict with Federal voting laws and hurt minority voting districts.
What!!! For those who claim that the Fair Districts amendment would conflict with the Voting Rights Amendment, one only need read the very simple language: Districts may not be drawn to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party…or to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. Districts must be contiguous…compact…equal in population as feasible, and…make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries.
It explains very simply that the standards would not apply in those areas where they would conflict with the National Voting Rights laws: Districts shall not be drawn to deny racial or language minorities the equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. It also adds that implementation of standards will not occur wherever they conflict with federal law.
In fact, the Fair Districts amendment would give greater protection to minority voting districts because it would ensure there are finally standards in our state constitution for ensuring our elected officials follow clear, simple and fair rules for drawing districts. There are currently no standards whatsoever for how districts are drawn…with the end result that communities across the state have been drawn and quartered like convicts in the middle ages. Result? Almost no one knows who their elected official is.
Florida’s present system permits politicians to choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. Legislators use sophisticated computers, voter registration data and past election returns to predict how particular voters will vote in the future. Then they choose which voters are most likely to vote for them and their party and place just enough of those voters in “safe” districts — ones they are sure they can win. Those in charge also pack large numbers of unfavorable voters in into a few districts so the unfriendly voters will have a chance to win in fewer districts. Isn’t it interesting that people whose power is at stake are those who are trying to frighten the citizens with false claims?
It’s time to draw the line on rigged election districts…and on state leaders using false arguments to frighten voters.”
For more information about the non-partisan League of Women Voters visit:
www.TheFloridaVoter.org
