All On The Line Statement on Lack of Public Input Opportunities in Florida’s Redistricting Process
For Immediate Release:
January 11, 2022
Contact:
Brian Gabriel
gabriel@redistrictingaction.org
Today, Katie Vicsik, Florida State Director of All On The Line, released the following statement in response to today’s lack of accessibility and openness during public comment at the Florida House Redistricting Subcommittee meetings:
“All On The Line calls on the Florida House Redistricting Committee to restructure the public input process and make it significantly easier for Floridians to participate in a meaningful way. Today, the House Redistricting Subcommittees held two public hearings on map proposals simultaneously—one on the congressional map and the other on the state house map—forcing members of the public to pick one meeting instead of providing opportunities to comment on both maps. This particular scheduling conflict is representative of the committee’s overall lack of interest in engaging with the public and continues a pattern of unacceptable behavior.
“Real opportunities for public input must be properly noticed, accessible to members of the public from across the state, and adhere to a schedule that will allow for working Floridians to reasonably participate. Future hearings must also include options to communicate virtually with representatives as well as increase language accessibility. As of today, Florida’s redistricting process does not meet these simple standards and effectively serves as an obstacle that has kept members of the public from sharing their voices.
“Floridians must have every opportunity to participate in the redistricting process and provide feedback. Voters deserve an open and fair redistricting process, and the state’s leadership must do much more to provide their constituents with more thoughtful public engagement.”
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All On The Line
All On The Line is on a mission to end gerrymandering because it contributes to the polarization and dysfunction in our political system. Since launching in 2019, we’ve built a grassroots volunteer organization ahead of the 2021 redistricting process. This work includes launching Redistricting U, a national, in-person training program designed to give individuals the knowledge, skills, and tools to take action on redistricting, a program that is now offered virtually. All On The Line is the grassroots campaign of the National Redistricting Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. For more information please visit: https://www.allontheline.org/