Sample Letters to the Editor
Redistricting
Dear Editor,
It’s been a roller-coaster ride with one setback after another for Fair Districts Georgia and all the volunteers who have worked so hard to bring the House and Senate resolutions/bills to resolve the gerrymandering situation in Georgia.
These bills represent years of discussion, research, advocacy and civic engagement. An independent commission would be an important first step toward more responsive representation to ensure districts are fairly drawn to represent the constituents that are being served. Georgia needs more transparency and better standards to keep voters informed and legislators honest in using a fair process of redistricting.
Legislators are focused on getting re-elected and gaining power over Georgia’s budget to focus on their personal agendas and limiting programs that support the people’s agenda across Georgia.
With a tight timeline looming to redistricting in 2021, it is time to ask why these resolutions/bills are being ignored. With the chaos in Washington it is more important than ever to ensure a fair election process. Remember that redistricting is a once a decade process, and if we do not get a fair hearing now, another decade is lost. The Republicans hold sway in the Legislature right now, but it could very easily be the Democrats that call the shots. If the Democrats gain the majority in November, why would they want to give up their newfound power?
Readers must make their voices heard and find out where their representatives and candidates stand. Tell them Georgia needs fair elections no matter who holds the majority. It’s time to have Voters choosing their Legislators versus Politicians choosing their voters. The clock is ticking fast to 2021!
Amanda Sweeney
Atlanta, GA (275 words)
Reforming Redistricting
Dear Editor,
Does it matter to you that Georgia politicians get to choose their voters by gerrymandering the district lines, creating “safe” districts for re-electing themselves where they become unaccountable to their constituents? Don’t be fooled into thinking that having your favorite party in power is a guarantee that they will listen to you either; once they know they will be re-elected they can focus on their personal agendas and limit programs that support the people’s agenda across Georgia. Frankly, we are seeing Georgia legislators boldly focusing on programs that will get them re-elected and gain power including gerrymandering.
When Democrats are in power, they do it and when Republicans are in power, they do it.
We the People, in the middle are taken for a ride. It is just bad governance, and we all suffer because of it.
Demand to be listened to. Demand to be heard. Demand non-partisan redistricting. Demand Fair Maps. Demand that Voters choose their Legislators versus Politicians choosing their Voters!
Joanne Snow
Hancock County (169 Words)
Fair Process
Party In Power
Democracy Act
Dear Editor,
Where does your Legislator stand on nonpartisan redistricting?
With the completion of the census in 2021, it will be time for another round of drawing maps for the state and federal legislative and congressional districts. This is the time for we the people to demand our state representatives end partisan gerrymandering in Georgia.
Partisan gerrymandering is the practice of drawing district lines to either dilute (crack) or concentrate (pack) districts with certain voters for partisan political gain.
My Georgia House Representative Hugh Thorn in District 112 and Senator Noah Support in District 40 have stated to me in person that they will not support a bill on reforming redistricting that includes an Independent Commission. This gives them the Legislative power to have POLITICIANS pick their voters versus VOTERS picking their politicians.
I ask my fellow Georgians to check with their representatives to see where they stand on this issue. We need representatives who will listen and respond to the people’s agenda rather than boldly use their power to force their personal agendas on Georgia voters.
With a tight timeline looming to redistricting in 2021, it is time to ask why they are ignoring resolutions and bills to support an Independent Commission for redistricting. With the chaos in Washington it is more important than ever to ensure a fair election process. Remember that redistricting is a once-a-decade process. The Republicans hold sway in the Legislature right now, but it could very easily be the Democrats that call the shots. If the Democrats gain the majority in November, why would they want to give up their newfound power?
This is about government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Call and find out if your representatives support nonpartisan redistricting?
Adrian Green
Valdosta, GA (310 words)
Dear Editor,
Gerrymandering in Georgia is creating a legislature that does not listen to the voters. I met and spoke with my House District (number) Representative Harry Upton (R) and Senate District (number) Senator Morton Todd (Rep. and member of State Reapportionment Committee) multiple times about gerrymandering in Georgia. Neither Upton nor Todd would support a change.
Gerrymandering is legislators gone wrong by creating voting districts that sort voters into districts so the party in power wins more districts. District lines go every which way with legislators picking voters to build safe wins for themselves year after year. Basically, Politicians are picking their voters versus Voters picking their politicians.
Legislators say the process cannot be changed because the only way this can be done is to break up minority groups and that is illegal by Federal law. This is double talk! Georgia legislators for the first time have big data that can create fair districts within the guidelines of Federal Law. There are too many excuses by legislators in Georgia for not changing the redistricting process. When I hear we always have done it that way, I say Why!
I am not surprised that both of my representatives do not support reforming redistricting in Georgia. This is how many legislators react to giving up the power. Their focus is to stay in office and not listen to the voters. At one point, Senator Morton Todd refused to see me by sending a staff member to tell me he had not changed his position on redistricting. He is in a safe district and that says it all.
Contact your representatives and demand they listen to you on reforming redistricting in Georgia.
Mondale Jefferson
Athens, GA (248 words)
Dear Editor,
Over the years there are been many efforts, both from Democrats and Republicans, to end gerrymandering and bring about redistricting reform in Georgia. In 2019-2020 it was the Democracy Act which proposed to set fair standards and provide transparency to the process of drawing districts. It proposed an Independent Commission draw the boundaries rather than the legislators who want to keep themselves in power. But legislators want to select their voters and not have voters select their legislators. The Democracy Act never made it out of the Republican controlled committees despite Fair Districts GA and advocates stating this is not an issue of right or left – it is an issue of right or wrong. Gerrymandering is wrong, unfair, leads to incumbents who do not need to listen to all constituents. It leads to extreme partisanship and lack of bipartisan problem-solving in the GA legislature.
Both parties have done it. Neither is fair or representative of the people of Georgia.
In 2002, Democrats received 46% of the votes but maintained 59% of seats in Georgia legislature.
In 2012, Republicans received 53% of the votes but maintained 68% of seats in Georgia legislature.
In 2016, Georgia was so gerrymandered that 81% of Georgia’s legislative seats went uncontested, the highest in the country. As a Georgia, I am not proud of this or the fact that it means very vote does not count equally. It leads to dysfunctional government that is not responsive to the people of Georgia.
As the 2020 Census is completed, redistricting will begin in 2021. It is time for citizens to let their legislator know they are watching – they expect their legislators to do the right thing and support fair districts: fair standards and transparency so citizens can observe the process.
Call your legislators and ask if they are on the right side of fairness and openness in the redistricting process. Let them know you consider UNFAIR to be un-American and un-Georgian. It is time to have voters choosing their legislators versus politicians choosing their voters. The clock is ticking!
Nan Elliott
Columbus