League seeks fairer redistricting process

Members of the Southwest Nassau League of Women Voters questioned the fairness of the election process as they discussed the hot topic of redistricting at their meeting at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library on Monday.

Redistricting is the process by which new boundaries are set for state Senate, Assembly and Congressional election districts. The redistricting process takes place every 10 years.

On Dec. 31, the U.S. Census Bureau will deliver the population count, based on this year’s Census, to President Obama. The president will deliver the apportionment count — the census figures plus federal employees, miltary personnel and their dependents — to the House of Representatives on Jan. 10.

In March, the Census Bureau will begin sending the population and apportionment counts to the states. Then a 2012 primary filing deadline will be announced, by which time the process of redistricting must be completed.

In New York, the State Legislature will recommend new boundaries and submit its plan to redraw them to Governor Cuomo for approval or veto. The Legislature will seek the recommendation of the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, or LATFOR, a six-member group comprising one legislator and one non-legislator appointed by the temporary president of the State Senate, one legislator and one non-legislator appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one legislator appointed by each of the Senate and Assembly minority leaders. The State Legislature can use or reject LATFOR’s recommendations.

The redistricting process, according to league members at the meeting, is politically driven and hidden from the public, and results in uncompetitive districts and gerrymandering — drawing new boundaries that most often give incumbents the political advantage.

Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) said that redistricting is a part of the history of government, and that when he was a part of the redistricting process, he did what he thought was best for the people.

“Other people use redistricting to reinforce their political ability and to gain more votes for their party,” Weisenberg said. “I don’t care about votes, I care about the people because political parties don’t elect you. The people do.”

According to a flier produced by the Nassau County League of Women Voters titled “Key Elements of Redistricting Reform,” “Elections are supposed to let voters choose their representatives, but that too often in New York, elected officials have succeeded in turning the tables by drawing district lines that allow them to choose their voters before the voters choose them. New Yorkers want their elections not to be a forgone conclusion regarding the election of incumbents who are well entrenched in districts with lines that are drawn to protect them and fend off natural challengers.”

“Key Elements of Redistricting Reform” mentions Citizens Union, an independent, nonpartisan civic organization that promotes political reform in New York and has worked with State Sen. David Valesky (D-Oneida) and Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) to develop principles for reforming the process. Valesky and Gianaris want to create a new, independent citizens’ redistricting commission to draw congressional and legislative district lines that do not favor an incumbent legislator or political party. They want the commission to have sensible redistricting guidelines that would provide a fair representation of racial and language-minority groups.

In short, Valesky and Gianaris want a transparent redistricting process with citizen participation.

“It amazes me how we got to this point where we can manipulate our right to vote,” said Jane Brezenoff, an East Rockaway resident and member of the Nassau County League of Women Voters. “It’s important for us to educate young people as to what is happening, since they should have an opinion and be eager to vote.”

Besides pushing for legislative action, the league wants to galvanize public opinion, encourage Cuomo to veto partisan district lines and force a debate on reforms during the 2011-12 redistricting period.

“We want to make voters aware of what’s going on so they can say that they want a different process,” said Nancy Rosenthal, the league’s vice president and treasurer. “If we don’t say we want a different process, then it will continue on the same way.”