Redistricting

Redistricting is the key to the political empowerment of the Latino community. Ironically it is the one part of the electoral process to which Latinos have the least access. Donor support of Latino redistricting efforts is grossly inadequate. There are very few Latinos on state redistricting advisory boards and commissions. There are not enough Latino officials on decision-making bodies with sufficient influence to protect the interests of the Latino community during the redistricting process. There are very few local Latino leaders with experience or expertise in redistricting. Very few local Latino leaders have access to the data or the technology needed for redistricting purposes. There is insufficient legal assistance to local Latino groups. Donors do not adequately fund the few Latino organizations that are directly involved in assisting local groups and leaders in the redistricting of local, state, and federal jurisdictions. While redistricting, the redrawing of local, county, state and federal district boundaries, is required every ten years following the census to reflect changes in population and ensure the equitable distribution of political power, all-too-often the process merely becomes a decennial incumbent-protection exercise with little regard for the voting rights of minorities.

In the years leading up to or following the 2000 census, not a single foundation funded USHLI's redistricting training and technical assistance efforts, yet USHLI was able to train over 400 local leaders and public officials on redistricting in 14 states and draw local, state and federal redistricting proposals affecting approximately 100 jurisdictions at all levels of government.

Catch-22

Crucial as it is to Latino empowerment, redistricting is the consummate "Catch-22." Without adequate funding of redistricting efforts, Latinos will not be able to influence the redistricting process. Without the ability to influence the redistricting process, Latinos will be unable to elect candidates of their choice to represent them on city councils, county boards, and state legislatures where the decisions are made on how local, state, and federal districts will be drawn.

The protective provisions of the Voting Rights Act statutes must be enforced. The redistricting process is the most common violator of the Voting Right Act. According to a report compiled by the Gender and Multicultural Project, at least 85% of Hispanic elected officials come from jurisdictions covered by the Voting Rights Act.

Planning Ahead

USHLI would like to create a network of local leaders interested in making sure that all Latinos in your community are counted in the 2010 census and equitably included in the redistricting process. If you would like to receive information pertaining to the upcoming 2010 census and be involved in the next redistricting process in your community, contact Isabel Reyes at ireyes@ushli.org.