A Public Forum on Redistricting Reform for Indiana
When: Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Where: Franklin College
101 Branigin Blvd., Franklin, IN 46131
Napolitan Student Center, Branigin Room

Why Fair Districting Matters

Currently, Indiana’s legislative district maps are drawn by state legislators themselves.
If districts are drawn in a partisan manner, by politicians alone, gerrymandering can
result, leading to lack of competition, reduced voter turnout and political polarization.

Topics

• Where are we today in Indiana?
• What is happening nationally?
• Where is the reform movement headed in Indiana?
• How can I have an impact?

Panelists

• Paul Helmke - Professor, IU Bloomington Sch. of Public and Environmental Affairs; former Republican mayor of Fort Wayne; former President, U.S. Conference of Mayors
• Luis Fuentes-Rohwer – Prof., IU Bloomington School of Law, with teaching and research interests in voting and redistricting legislation, including gerrymandering cases.
• Julia Vaughn - Policy Director, Common Cause Indiana

Be an informed citizen.
You can make a difference.

Presented by The Indiana Coalition for Independent Redistricting

Voters Should Choose Their Representatives.

Not the Other Way Around. 

What is Gerrymandering? 

• Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral districts to benefit a particular party or candidate.
• Both Democrats and Republicans engage in gerrymandering. Generally, the party in power draws electoral maps.
• Indiana is one of 29 states that entrust the drawing of electoral maps to state legislators.

Why is reform needed?

• Gerrymandering leads to uncompetitive districts. Lack of competition reduces voter interest and voter turnout.  In 2014, Indiana’s voter turnout rate of 28%was the lowest in the nation.
• Lopsided districts create polarization, with candidates appealing to the extremes, rather than the center.
• Gerrymandering can splinter and harm communities of interest such as cities and towns, school districts, neighborhoods, and minority communities, making it hard for them to have their voices heard.  

What can I do? 

•    Stay informed.  Support legislation to establish an independent citizen-led commission to determine voting districts in Indiana.
•    Join with organizations like Common Cause Indiana and the League of Women Voters Indiana which are working hard to encourage lawmakers to pass reform legislation.
•    Tell your legislators that Indiana needs redistricting reform!

Indiana house districts; map data © Google; https://iga.in.gov/information/house_district_map/