Our unique democracy’s success depends on fair, equal, and trusted representation. Elected officials should represent the rights, needs and desires of all residents. Yet we are under threat by partisan gerrymandering, secret map drawing, and court challenges. With clear laws a commission that lays out criteria for designing districts, Washington State is in a better position than many others. Still, according to the recent LWVWA report there is more we can do.

Did you know?

• In Washington State, the League has been active in redistricting reform to ensure equal voice for our citizens since the 1930s. 
• The current Washington State Redistricting Commission structure and process was enacted into the Washington State Constitution in 1983.
• The Redistricting Commission gets appointed in January and must complete the maps by November 15^th in the years ending in ‘1’.

Currently we are developing the League of Women Voters of Washington’s Census and Redistricting Advocacy Plan. It is sure to include actions we can take to enhance the transparency of the process, increase the representation of our diverse state, increase public participation in the redistricting process, and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the redistricting commission.

Educational Forums

Education is key to understanding how redistricting and the census impacts our representation and social policy, The League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County in partnership with Politics of the Possible in Action are currently conducting an educational campaign on redistricting by conducting a series of community discussion forums throughout Pierce County. The forum presentation includes basic information and resources on redistricting and reapportionment, decennial census, and gerrymandering,  as well as discusses different types of redistricting commissions and the current court cases.

Upcoming Redistricting Forums Include: 

Thursday, April 19^{th
Hosted by League of Women Voters Pierce County} 

6:00 – 8:00pm
Steilacoom Town Hall
1717 Lafayette St.
Steilacoom, WA 98388

Saturday, April 21st
Hosted by League of Women Voters Kitsap County

10am -12Noon
Suquamish Community Congregational United Church of Christ
18732 Division Avenue NE,
Suquamish, WA 98392
Saturday, April 21st

2pm-4pm
Kitsap Regional Library - Sylvan Way Branch
1301 Sylvan Way
Bremerton, WA 98201

There are plans for additional forum in downtown Tacoma and Kitsap county. Look for upcoming announcement on the League of Women Voters Tacoma-Pierce County Facebook page.

If you would like a speaker on redistricting for an upcoming meeting, please contact Alison McCaffree. 

Train the Trainers.

League of Women Voters Tacoma-Pierce County is also excited to create a ‘forum in a box’ to assist other Leagues and community groups in developing and hosting their own forums. If you have someone or a group of people who would like to develop their own forum, please contact Alison McCaffree at to be the first to receive the package of information and schedule a training.