FEB 27: Stop Gerrymandering Now! - Atlanta, GA Mon Feb 27Th 4:00Pm - 8:00Pm Atlantagageorgiavoting 18 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, USA Map
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FEB 27: Stop Gerrymandering Now! - Atlanta, GA Mon Feb 27th 4:00pm - 8:00pm AtlantaGAGeorgiaVoting 18 Capitol Square SW, Atlanta, GA 30334, USA map Sen Elena Parent and 5 other Senators have sponsored Resolutions S.R. 6 and S.R. 7, calling for an amendment to the Georgia Constitution creating an independent bipartisan commission to draw voting districts. The hearing for these resolutions will be at the last minute before crossover day, on Monday Feb 27 at 4 pm in room 307 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building. We need to show up at the meeting and demand a vote that day. Our votes matter! We demand fair and equal representation! Partisan legislatures have been violating federal mandate for decades, by drawing voting district boundaries to favor the party in power. It’s called Gerrymandering. Gerrymandering undermines fair representation and competitive elections. Gerrymandered districts cheat voters by making some votes count more than others. It’s not hard to see that partisan legislators have a vested interested in the outcome. The good news is Sen Elena Parent and 5 other Senators have sponsored Resolutions S.R. 6 and S.R. 7, which call for an amendment to the Georgia Constitution creating an independent bipartisan commission to draw voting districts instead of the General Assembly. Georgia would join 6 other forward-looking states if it adopted the independent commission approach to redistricting. More good news is that Senator Ben Watson of the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee has agreed to hold a hearing on the resolutions. But, the hearing is at the 11 th hour before Crossover Day, when bills in each house must crossover to the other house for consideration. The hearing will be Monday Feb 27 at 4 pm in room 307 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building (18 Capitol Square, S.W., Atlanta 30334). Senator Parent urges voters concerned with dysfunctional representation to SHOW UP AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING prepared to speak in support of this bill, and demanding a vote on the same day. No vote, no crossover. There must be a vote. In the meantime, CALL, CALL, CALL: and e-mail and write letters to the Senate Reapportionment & Redistricting Committee asking for a VOTE on Feb. 27th. Contact information for the Reapportionment & Redistricting Committee: Ben Watson (Chair) - [email protected]; Phyllis Williams - [email protected]; (404) 656-7880 William Ligon (Vice Chair) - [email protected]; Avi'el Bland - avi'[email protected]; (404) 463-1383 Horacena Tate (Secretary) - [email protected]; Karen Thompson - [email protected]; (404) 463-8053 Matt Brass - [email protected]; Hayley Conner - [email protected]; (404) 656-6446 Bill Cowsert - [email protected]; Sharon Wilder - [email protected]; (404) 463-1366 Vincent Fort - [email protected]; Javier Brown - [email protected]; (404) 656-5091 Marty Harbin - [email protected]; Lucy Felker - [email protected]; (404) 656-0078 Ed Harbison - [email protected]; Cyndi Williams - [email protected]; (404) 656-0074 Steve Henson - [email protected]; Robi Hilliard - Robi.HilliardHerron@senate .ga.gov; (404) 656-0085 Hunter Hill - [email protected]; Taylor Hartshorn - [email protected]; (404) 463-2518 David Shafer - [email protected]; Anna Boggs - [email protected]; (404) 656-0048 Example e-mail: "Dear Senator ___, I am writing today to ask for a vote in the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee on Senate Resolutions 6 and 7, introduced by Senator Elena Parent, which address the process of congressional redistricting in Georgia. I believe that voters should elect their representatives — not the other way around, as it happens now when representatives work together to create a map to choose their voters. Congressional maps should not be drawn to favor or disfavor any party or incumbent. Until the process of redistricting in Georgia is turned over to an independent commission less influenced by partisan politics, the extreme polarization and gridlock we see in our governments will continue. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to seeing these resolutions receive a vote in your committee. Sincerely, ______ [address] [phone #]" Text of bills: HR 2: www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation... HR 3: www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation... SR 6: www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation... SR 7: www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation... HR 2: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that legislative and congressional reapportionment be done by an independent bipartisan commission instead of the General Assembly; to provide for related matters; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. HR 3: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that legislative and congressional reapportionment be done by an independent bipartisan commission instead of the General Assembly; to provide for the establishment of such commission; to provide for the qualifications and appointment of members of such commission; to provide for the filling of vacancies on the commission; to provide for powers, duties, responsibilities, and resources for such commission; to provide for guidelines for reapportionment; to provide for related matters; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. SR 6: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that legislative and congressional reapportionment be done by an independent bipartisan commission instead of the General Assembly; to provide for related matters; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. SR 7: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to provide procedures and standards for legislative and congressional reapportionment; to provide for related matters; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. .