Common Cause is pleased that U.S. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA, and Alan Lowenthal, D-CA, have introduced H.R. 2501, the Citizens’ Districts Preservation Act. This bill would preserve until after the next census congressional districts drawn by citizen-led independent and bipartisan commissions created to end gerrymandering. Although state legislatures draw congressional districts in most of the U.S., several states have created alternative processes that prioritize fair representation and bipartisan cooperation over political advantage. Common Cause played a key role in the creation of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, which is considered a national model.

Facts about this bill:

·         Original co-sponsors include nine Democrats and seven Republicans.

·         Prohibits redrawing Congressional districts in six states with districts drawn by an independent or bipartisan commission after the last census. These states include Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Jersey, and Washington.

·         Protects against the potential fallout from 애리조나 주 의회 대 애리조나 독립 재분할 위원회, a pending U.S. Supreme Court case with an expected decision date in June. This case threatens to give state legislatures a monopoly over the drawing of congressional maps by prohibiting citizens from creating independent redistricting systems.

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