The census is coming. We have time to take advantage and change the country for the better.
Every 10 years, the government goes out to collect demographic data on the country. Among other things, this tells them how many people live in a state. All states get two senators automatically, but representatives are elected proportionally– the more people in a state, the more representatives it has.
Individual state governments (either the legislatures or committees appointed by politicians) are in charge of drawing the lines where the districts should be. This is a highly politicized process, where each side tries to draw districts to give themselves the majority of representatives. States are required to redraw these lines the year after the census, to take into account the new data. (Only 7 states– Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming– have so few people that the entire state is the district.)
In 2010, the Republican state legislatures drew these lines to give their side an unbeatable majority in the House. This is why Obama wasn’t able to accomplish a lot of his legislative agenda. The House, controlled by the Republicans, was determined to frustrate his every move.
Starting now, go to your local Democratic office. Google “[your county] democrats,” and it should pop right up. Tell them you want to get involved.
In 2018, you will elect state legislators. Research them. Find candidates who will do good, and work your ass off to get them elected. Not many voters turn out in off-year elections, so just getting out the vote for our side will make a huge difference. Knock on people’s doors. Talk to them about your candidate. Listen to their concerns. Bring those back to your candidate, and develop a way to address them.
Do this again in 2020. You will have already had some success. Build on it. Get more good people elected to your legislature. Then, after the census, they can redraw the lines. They can make it so we’ll get progressive people into Congress.
2022, the new districts will have been drawn. Work to get progressives elected to these districts. We can take back the House. We can make this happen. It will take six years, but if we don’t start right now, we’ll lose the chance for another 10 on top of that.
For tons more info, go to redistricting.lls.edu
Let’s get to work.
