By Alison McCaffree, Redistricting Issue Chair, LWV of Washington 

The League of Women Voters of Washington has been a leader in redistricting reform in our state for over 90 years. We are not stopping now. For the 2021 redistricting cycle we ran 13 Speak Up Schools to teach people how to testify, held over 30 Mapping Listening sessions, and created our own set of statewide maps. Congratulations to everyone who testified or provided input. We’ve taken a deep look at the Washington State Redistricting Commission’s 2021 process and results and found them lacking. We’ve got a lot of work to do.  

The LWVWA calls for comprehensive reform of the Washington state redistricting process before 2031. Over the last few weeks, numerous decisions and events further emphasize a great need for such reform. Our district maps should reflect the voices of all communities across the state. The 2021 maps miss the mark. The LWVWA applauds the efforts of a Yakima community group that brought a lawsuit alleging the maps violate Latino citizens’ voting rights in the area. While the Washington Supreme Court approved the maps, we are disappointed in the lack of timeliness and transparency in the commission’s negotiations. If local communities cannot see what commissioners are discussing during their process, then they do not know if their input has been heard and considered.  

Changing the process and the commission structure requires changes in the law and in the Constitution of the State of Washington. The legislature refused to make even the most obvious changes by failing to pass HB 2575 (in 2020) and SB 5560 (in 2022). The Washington Administrative Code changes that the commission made—only because of the pressure of a lawsuit settlement—do not go far enough. The LWVWA calls on local Leagues, the public, and the media to engage the legislature in advocating for more transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in the state’s redistricting process and in calling for a new type of commission—an independent citizen-focused commission.  

We must disaggregate the commission from partisan politics and provide more staff support sooner. The trust in our election systems starts with redistricting. Without comprehensive redistricting reform, Washington’s community needs will continue to come second to other concerns.  

The LWVWA is assembling a broad coalition of individuals and organizations that support comprehensive reform of Washington’s redistricting process. We advocate for change in six major areas:

1.     Examining the structure of the commission

2.     Expanding staff support

3.     Increasing transparency and ensuring Open Public Meetings Act training

4.     Defining criteria used to evaluate district boundary placement

5.     Securing broad public Input

6. Increasing access to the process

Redistricting Reform Discussion meetings: 

Join us for deep discussions on each of these possible areas every other Tuesday, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m., starting April 12. 

Register Today (same for all meetings). 

• April 12, 2022: Criteria and ranking 

• April 26 2022: Transparency and accountability 

• May 10, 2022: Increased staffing and technology support 

• May 24, 2022: Independent citizens commission 

• June 7, 2022: Input and access 

While redistricting relies on technology and data analysis, ultimately human judgment must balance representation among various communities of interest with overlapping or conflicting needs. Washington’s redistricting commission needs a larger group of people representing communities around the state. We must create a process that inspires trust, that holds commissioners accountable to communities, and that ultimately gives voice to the people of Washington state.  

If you have any questions, please contact Alison McCaffree.