Why I voted “Yes” on Redistricting

I voted yes this week for the redistricting amendment, and I did so after a lot of thought because I was initially conflicted.

For those of you who don’t know, I spent YEARS advocating for the current redistricting process because I believe so strongly that gerrymandering is wrong. I lobbied legislators, I gathered petition signatures at the polls, I stuffed thousands of fundraising letters to support the cause, and I testified in front of the redistricting commission and the independent special master engaged by the Supreme Court of Virginia to draw our current maps. I did all of this even when it drew the ire of some Democrats and fellow progressives.

So why did I vote yes? Quite simply because marginalized and vulnerable people are being targeted and hurt right now by federal policies and actions. The President demanded that Republican-led states redraw their maps outside of the normal time frame to “give” him more Republican members of Congress and some heeded his call.

Virginia has the opportunity, and I believe the duty, to counterbalance what has been done by other states and we will return to the bipartisan commission in 2030. Turning a blind eye to the harm being caused now by a Congress that refuses to do their job because of personally held good governance beliefs is not principled.

We have a duty to take care of each other and I believe that includes voting yes.