Redistricting in Arizona
"It used to be that the idea was, once every two years voters elected their representatives, and now, instead, it's every
ten years the representatives choose their constituents."
- Pamela Karlan, Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law at Stanford Law School
As elections near, there is a lot of talk about voters determining the future leadership of our state, but are the voters
really who determines election outcomes? Many would say that the people who draw the district lines, not the voters or even
the positions taken by the politicians, determine the outcomes of elections. In Arizona, changing the legislative and
congressional district lines (and adding 1 more congressional district) will be undertaken by a 5 member redistricting
commission using the data from the 2010 census.
One member of the commission is chosen by each of the following people: The Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives
(currently a Republican), the House Minority Leader (currently a Democrat), the Senate President (currently a Republican)
and the Senate Minority Leader (currently a Democrat). Those four then choose an independent member to be the fifth member
of the commission.
For Arizona voters to have a true say, Arizona needs more competitive districts and fewer “safe” or “gerrymandered” districts
that heavily favor one party or the other. The five individuals that are chosen to draw the lines in Arizona arguably have
more impact on the future of our state than all of the voters, campaigns and the millions of dollars that will be spent on
elections from 2012-2020.
"Both parties are equally bad in regards to wanting to keep power."
- State Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-Texas) who chaired his chamber's redistricting committee in 2001.
Click here to get more information about redistricting or to find information on serving on the commission
“The polarization and poisonous atmosphere that have infected the House of Representatives for the past two decades or more can be traced - in large part - to the manner in which district lines are drawn in most states."
- Les Francis, former Exec Director of the Democratic National Committee
Click here to play the redistricting game
"A funny and insightful game that sheds light on redistricting and the complexity -- yet necessity -- of reform. Be prepared
to be challenged in trying to win -- and challenged to consider how we all can win."
- Rob Richie, Exec Director, FairVote.org
Our Mission
The Arizona League of Conservation Voters Education Fund Education Fund works to educate and coordinate citizens and organizations in the basic techniques of effective participation in government to further conservation goals and protect Arizona's natural heritage. We also work to Get Out the Conservation Vote and heighten the importance of the environment to the electorate and those elected officials that are responsible to the electorate.
