<strong>From staff reports</strong>

Now that the U.S. Census is complete, what’s next? The League of Women Voters Beaufort Area wants to be sure you know it’s redistricting and just what that means.

The LWV Beaufort Area is hosting an online redistricting program at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 8 via Zoom. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Interested citizens can register in advance for the meeting at https://bit.ly/3cyBjHt. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the meeting.

This fall, the S.C. Legislature will be drawing new Federal Congressional and State Senate and Congressional district maps. This program will educate voters about the process, as well as concerns that the maps are drawn fairly.

Why it matters?

Political and racial gerrymandering distorts and undermines representative democracy by allowing officials to select their voters rather than voters to elect their officials. When done for purposes of racial discrimination or to ensure the dominance of one political party, gerrymandering runs counter to equal voting rights for all eligible voters.

What is the LWV doing?

The League promotes transparent and accountable redistricting processes and to end hyper-partisan practices that don't benefit constituents. The League believes responsibility for fair redistricting should be vested in an independent special commission, with membership that reflects the diversity of the unit of government. The League works in states across the country to pass ballot initiatives to institute independent redistricting commissions.

On April 29, the LWV will host a “People Powered Day of Action” with events around the country to shine a light on the redistricting process. Fair maps depend on the input of the public, and no one organization or one person has the solution for fair maps – making collaboration with partner organizations and community leaders necessary for impactful events.