Omaha World-Herald: Nebraska rated a C+ for redistricting process by national group

10.11.2023 / By Erin Bamer
Omaha World-Herald: Nebraska rated a C+ for redistricting process by national group

Gavin Geis, director of Common Cause Nebraska, said a C+ is a fair grade for Nebraska. He said he believes Nebraska’s maps ended up pretty good, yet the redistricting process had issues with public access, transparency and politicization. Besides three public hearings across the state on the proposed maps, Geis said, it was difficult to get committee members to engage with public input. He said lawmakers largely ignored suggested maps proposed by community organizations. “Citizens’ work on this is why we had good maps,” said Geis, who contributed to the Nebraska aspect of the CHARGE report. The national Common Cause organization is one of groups involved with the coalition. Many of the states scoring better than Nebraska have independent groups that conduct or aid the redistricting process. Geis said the proper way to redraw political districts is to do so without elected officials, who have a clear stake in the outcome. Redistricting power won’t be something lawmakers give up willingly, Geis said, so a citizen-led ballot initiative would be the way to change Nebraska’s system. Such an initiative was attempted in 2020 but didn’t make it to the ballot — something Geis attributes to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gavin Geis, director of Common Cause Nebraska, said a C+ is a fair grade for Nebraska. He said he believes Nebraska’s maps ended up pretty good, yet the redistricting process had issues with public access, transparency and politicization.

Geis said he understood the reasons behind preserving rural districts, but noted that current population trends make it likely that Nebraska will lose one or more rural districts when the state redraws the maps again in 2031.

Besides three public hearings across the state on the proposed maps, Geis said, it was difficult to get committee members to engage with public input. He said lawmakers largely ignored suggested maps proposed by community organizations.

The Legislature’s initial proposed maps would have split communities in Grand Island and Omaha, Geis said, and it was only because of members in those communities paying close attention that this was avoided.

“Citizens’ work on this is why we had good maps,” said Geis, who contributed to the Nebraska aspect of the CHARGE report. The national Common Cause organization is one of groups involved with the coalition.

Even though the initial reports were improved, Geis said, lawmakers did not give the public an opportunity to weigh in on those revised maps — something that was needed given the amount of changes.

Many of the states scoring better than Nebraska have independent groups that conduct or aid the redistricting process. Geis said the proper way to redraw political districts is to do so without elected officials, who have a clear stake in the outcome.

Redistricting power won’t be something lawmakers give up willingly, Geis said, so a citizen-led ballot initiative would be the way to change Nebraska’s system. Such an initiative was attempted in 2020 but didn’t make it to the ballot — something Geis attributes to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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See More: Gerrymandering/RedistrictingGerrymandering & Representation