{"id":183,"date":"2021-09-07T21:38:40","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T21:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/rhode-island\/press-releases\/diverse-coalition-of-community-organizations-call-for-fair-and-transparent-redistricting-process\/"},"modified":"2021-09-07T21:38:40","modified_gmt":"2021-09-07T21:38:40","slug":"diverse-coalition-of-community-organizations-call-for-fair-and-transparent-redistricting-process","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/rhode-island\/press\/diverse-coalition-of-community-organizations-call-for-fair-and-transparent-redistricting-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Diverse Coalition of Community Organizations Call for Fair and Transparent Redistricting Process"},"template":"","class_list":["post-183","press","type-press","status-publish","hentry","press_type-press-release"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"Today, a coalition of more than 20 community organizations sent a letter to the state\u2019s Reapportionment Commission outlining a list of demands to achieve a fair and transparent redistricting process. ","featured_image":"","press_type":146,"authors":["{\"site_id\":\"1\",\"post_type\":\"person\",\"post_id\":7849}"],"related_issues":[62,424],"related_work":false,"location":42},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":null,"name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Yesterday, a coalition of more than 20 community organizations sent a letter<\/a> to the state\u2019s Reapportionment Commission outlining a list of demands to achieve a fair and transparent redistricting process. The coalition asked that the redistricting process allow for robust debate and public participation with statewide public meetings accessible in multiple languages, in person, and online. The Reapportionment Commission will hold its first meeting tomorrow, Thursday, September 9.\r\n\r\n\u201cRhode Islanders deserve a fair and accountable redistricting process in which they can meaningfully participate,\u201d said John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island<\/strong>. \u201cThis process will impact our elections and the people\u2019s voting power for the next decade. The Reapportionment Commission must take all necessary steps to make sure the new district maps are drawn in a fair and transparent process the public can easily understand.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe coalition also highlighted the importance of a process that invites the community to submit fair maps for consideration, allows the public to review and provide input on proposed maps, and the need to end prison gerrymandering.\r\n\r\n\"The League of Women Voters believes in a democracy that is powered by the people and is for the people, all the people,\" said Jane Koster, president of League of Women Voters Rhode Island<\/strong>. \"People Powered Fair Maps is our League program that promotes educational and engagement efforts to prepare our citizens to participate in the redistricting cycle. Tools to engage people in the process of submitting their own maps to the Commission is necessary. Transparency is most important and community interests are prioritized. Follow the lead of the people.\"\r\n\r\nKey highlights of the coalitions demands to the commission include:\r\n