With North Carolina gaining additional congressional seat, the redistricting process must be inclusive, transparent and free from gerrymandering

RALEIGH – The U.S. Census Bureau today released congressional apportionment data from the 2020 census, showing that North Carolina will gain an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, bringing the state’s total to 14. Census data used to begin drawing new congressional and legislative districts in North Carolina will come later this year from the Census Bureau.

The following is a statement from Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause NC:

“Today’s announcement that North Carolina will gain an additional congressional seat points to our state’s continued growth. It also highlights the critical need to ensure that no community is left behind or marginalized by this year’s pivotal redistricting process. The new voting districts drawn in 2021 will impact our elections and shape the direction of our state for the decade to come. When map-drawing begins later this year after complete census data is available, lawmakers must not shortchange the people of North Carolina with a rushed or partisan redistricting process.

Instead, legislators should hold a series of meaningful hearings in communities throughout the state and actually listen – and be responsive to – public input. It is especially important that communities of color, who have historically been most hurt by gerrymandering, are able to fully participate in this year’s redistricting process and have a true voice in determining how our state’s voting maps are drawn.

Our state courts have made it clear that racial and partisan gerrymandering are unconstitutional in North Carolina. In order to avoid illegal map-rigging, the redistricting process in 2021 must be transparent, nonpartisan and include robust public input – and be completely free from gerrymandering.”

Common Cause NC is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy.