By Alison McCaffree, Redistricting Issue Chair, LWVWA 

Redistricting in 2021 for Washington state’s legislative and congressional districts has been full of surprises. In the 2020 legislative  session, the LWVWA saw support for a reform bill (HB 2575), which passed the House but not the Senate. Three people of color were appointed to the Washington State Redistricting Commission, the first time the commission wasn’t all white. Over a six-month input process, the commission had unprecedented input from communities. More people understood, cared about, and acted in the process than ever before, and communities small and large clearly stated their preferences for their voting districts. 

Unfortunately for public advocates, the commission finished with behind-the-scenes negotiations that included a last-second vote before the constitutional deadline. The chair of the commission officially stated that they did not meet their deadline and handed responsibility over to the Washington Supreme Court. The commission completed and published its maps anyway, indicating in a press conference that the four voting commissioners supported the maps and they hoped the court would accept them. 

In a surprise order on Friday, Dec. 3, the Washington Supreme Court declared that the Washington State Redistricting Commission had substantially met its constitutional deadline. The court declined to redraw the maps. The commission’s final maps will stand as the district lines for elections in 2022 through 2031. The court did not make any decision on the constitutionality of the maps, which could be challenged under the federal Voting Rights Act and the Open Meetings Act. We will see in the coming months how many lawsuits will be filed challenging the commission’s process and the final maps. 

You can find the final maps on Dave’s Redistricting website at the following links. These maps allow you to compare the new districting with the old districts. 

Legislative maps 

Congressional maps 

The maps appear to have been done in haste, and there are many areas where the maps do not follow what we heard from communities. The LWVWA will look to those communities most affected to lead when it comes to challenging the maps. The LWVWA will move ahead on legislative and constitutional reforms to the redistricting process. 

Here's what’s next: 

• Feedback: Many of you participated in the redistricting process over the last years. To help us plan for the next round, we need your feedback. Please fill out this quick survey. 

• Short-term reform: Using the momentum stemming from the discord over the rocky end to the redistricting process, we need to act quickly to create reform. In the 2022 legislative session, we will be lobbying for a redistricting reform bill. Our goal is to implement comprehensive change that modernizes the process, ensures transparency, and gives equal access to all. 

• Long-term reform: We know the world has changed considerably since 1983, when an independent bipartisan redistricting commission was established by law. We are advocating for structural change to our commission that would include ordinary citizens and citizens who do not represent either major party. This will require a bill in the legislature and a vote of the people to pass a state constitutional amendment. 

If you have any questions or comments, or want to be involved in short- and long-term reforms, please contact me, Alison McCaffree.