In a democracy, we are supposed to choose our elected representatives. However, in some instances, through sophisticated partisan gerrymandering tactics, our representatives are really choosing their voters.
Every 10 years, in the year following the Census, state legislatures rearrange the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts in a process called redistricting.
Redistricting is supposed to reflect changes in population and ensure that everyone is fairly represented. But by manipulating the lines, moving friendly voters into pockets of strength and breaking up areas where they and their allies typically run weakest, members of the majority party — Democrat or Republican — can have a big impact on who’ll represent you in the statehouse and in Congress.
Common Cause Texas is working with strong coalition of nonpartisan organizations to implement an Independent Redistricting Commission to ensure that the lines are drawn fairly and districts represent the communities they serve. That coalition is now suing to change the racially gerrymandered maps the legislature drew for this decade.
Learn more about Fair Maps Texas Action Committee v. Abbott.