Letter: We need a plan for fair redistricting 2020 is the next census. That means WE, the citizens of Indiana, need to keep the pressure on our state legislature to move legislation that will put an independent, transparent, fair Redistricting Commission in place for the redistricting that will occur in 2021. Indeed, this past year even Gov. Holcomb noted that Indiana should reform its redistricting procedure. YOU need to contact your Indiana state Senator and Representative. Because of redistricting decisions made in 2011, many districts in Indiana are non-competitive within and/or between parties, which means we do not get to choose who represents us. Instead, the legislators drew the districts in their favor and, chose who can vote for them. It also means, because they have “safe (i.e., non-competitive) districts” that they can pursue their own legislative agendas and ignore action on the bills that many, if not most, of their constituents favor. League of Women Voters Indiana, Common Cause Indiana, Hoosier Environmental Council, WOMEN4CHANGE, and many other groups are working together for non-partisan, fair, and transparent redistricting. Cities and counties, including Evansville and Vanderburgh County, have endorsed resolutions supporting Redistricting Reform.   This year three redistricting bills have been submitted. SB91, the most comprehensive of the three bills, proposes a.) establishing a redistricting commission to create, take public input on, and recommend plans to redraw general assembly and congressional districts; b.) creating a redistricting commission nominating committee to evaluate applicants for the five non-legislative seats on the proposed commission; and c.) establishing standards to govern the commission and the agency that will create the redistricting plans. SB91 also provides for a meeting of the General assembly to enact the redistricting plans before October 1 of the redistricting year, 2021, i.e. the year following the decennial census. It would repeal the current law. SB91 is not perfect but is an improvement over the current procedure in which the party “in power” in the state legislature draws the district lines. Stay informed, write to, email, and talk with your Indiana House and Senate legislators to encourage their support for legislation that establishes a nonpartisan, independent, transparent Redistricting Commission and procedure during the 2019 legislative session. The address for all state legislators is 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204; phone numbers are available at iga.in.gov then “find your legislator”. Talk to them in person at Meet Your Legislators and the Town Halls. - Meg Connolly and Deb Schade, League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana (Evansville Courier & Press February 7, 2019)

An LWVSWIN resolution calling for an independent redistricting commission in Indiana was passed by the Evansville City Council on 9/11/17. The Vanderburgh County Commissioners passed a similar resolution on 10/3/17. CLICK FOR A PDF OF THE CITY REDISTRICTING RESOLUTION CLICK FOR A PDF OF THE COUNTY REDISTRICTING RESOLUTION Letter to the Evansville Courier: Indiana missed chance to end gerrymandering Evansville City Council Passes Redistricting Resolution Resolution Supports Indiana Voting Redistricting Commission Vanderburgh Co. Commission Against Gerrymandering Vanderburgh County Commissioners Aim to End Gerrymandering   REDISTRICTING HEADLINES Eye on the Pie: Now is the time to act against gerrymandering Supreme Court Deals Blow To Indiana Redistricting Reform Advocates 5 to 4 Supreme Court wont block districts drawn for partisan gain Census, redistricting top remaining Supreme Court cases Pressure builds Redistricting efforts get push from courts Advocates still hope to give voters a voice Gerrymandering Ruling Tees Up Another Challenge For GOP In Key Swing State Federal Court Rules That Michigan's Congressional Map Was Unfairly Gerrymandered Sheila Suess Kennedy: Connecting the dots between gerrymandering, potholes Kavanaugh Seems Conflicted On Partisan Gerrymandering At Supreme Court Arguments High court questions judiciary role in partisan redistricting A more skeptical high court to hear redistricting challenge League of Women Voters to hold Draw the Lines event Our Opinion Doing better than nothing on redistricting reform in Indiana Commentary: The redistricting blues, once more with feeling Tribune-Star Editorial: One redistricting step at a time Critics: Indiana redistricting bill wouldn't end gerrymandering Indiana lawmakers likely to keep drawing maps that critics say amplify their power Morton Marcus: Priorities for 2019 Resolve to pass redistricting reform in 2019 Letters: Indiana legislature should approve redistricting reform Sheila Kennedy Challenges to democracy come from within LWV urges redistricting reform Its time to reform Indianas redistricting process Politics and Protests at Statehouse Organization Day Redistricting, sexual harassment, and press freedoms dominate discussions Bipartisan move to good government Our Opinion: A vote for redistricting reform in Indiana Carmel mayors aide could help tilt City Council more in his favor, candidates say Redistricting Times up for reform Greater Lafayette groups to push for redistricting reform Sunday at a workshop Indiana Redistricting Reform Advocates Disappointed By Supreme Court Rulings Supreme Court Justices: No definitive ruling on partisan districts Indiana election reforms approved by Senate die in House Redistricting Reform Dies in Indiana House