Fair Maps/Redistricting

Statewide Redistricting

US House of Representatives (Congressonal) and Kentucky General Assembly (House and Senate)

The League of Women Voters supports a fair and transparent redistricting process. Redistricting is the process of re drawing legislative districts to ensure that the same number of voters are in each district. This determines which people will be grouped together to choose a representative. This is important, because this will affect all decisions that are made in government: affecting schools, jobs, taxes, healthcare, roads and bridges, etc.

In the state of Kentucky, legislators are responsible for drawing the maps. Unfortunately, the drawing of the maps can be done in a way that can benefit either incumbents or political parties, rather than drawing maps to best reflect voters’ interests. This is called gerrymandering.

The League supports drawing districts that are compact and competitive, where voters choose their legislators; versus drawing maps that practically guarantee a certain outcome in elections.

Redistricting is done every 10 years in the wake of US Census data being released. So maps that are drawn based on 2020 Census data will be in place for a decade, so we need to make sure they are drawn fairly.

We support an open process, where the public is able to provide feedback on the maps. Public input is important, because citizens understand the dynamics of their local communities and areas where people work, shop, go to school and church. They also understand natural barriers that impact community dynamics, such as rivers, lakes, mountains. People in a community are better able to provide input on communities of interest as well as understand the local dynamics within a community.

The League of Women Voters of Kentucky has drawn Draft Maps based on 2020 U.S. Census data, and are collecting public input.

Local Government Redistricting

 LFUCG Redistricting

Every 10 years after the U.S. Census, Lexington is required to redraw the boundaries for each of the twelve Urban County Council Districts to account for changes in population according to local, state, and federal rules governing the process. The US Census Bureau provides population and demographic data to states and localities that are tailored to the task of redistricting.

CivicLex

CivicLex a local non-profit civic education organization that focuses on bringing daylight to the issues, policies, and procedures that impact Fayette County, Kentucky. Like the League of Women Voters, they are nonpartisan in their efforts, meaning they do not support or oppose specific political parties or candidates. They have been doing a deep dive into redistricting for the Lexington Fayette Urban-County Government, LFUCG.