As organizers working to build a true, multiracial democracy, the State Voices Affiliated Network knows first-hand the importance of fair maps and congressional districts to the communities we serve. The district lines that allow voters to choose their state and federal leaders ultimately make the difference between who has access to critical resources and influence in the halls of power. Too often, district maps representing BIPOC and working communities are manipulated through a process called gerrymandering for the purpose of favoring one political party over another. Fair maps that accurately and equitably count our voices can make the difference in whether our communities have what we need to thrive.
Typically, redistricting happens once a decade following the Census. Our network advocates for accurate census counts to make redistricting fair, ensuring voters can pick their representatives, not the other way around. In several states like California, Michigan, Montana, and Washington, that has meant taking the redistricting decisions out of the hands of politicians by installing nonpartisan, independent commissions.
But increasingly in our hyper-partisan landscape, several states are pursuing redistricting outside of the typical ten-year cycle, sensing an opportunity to shift the political map in their favor as we approach the 2026 elections. Politicians are trying to re-draw politically gerrymandered maps with scientific precision to maximize their power.
In Texas, the legislature responded to President Trump’s public requests for more Republican seats by passing a map aimed at producing five more Republican representatives. In Missouri, lawmakers passed a revised map to support Republicans as well, though opponents are pushing for a state-wide vote. And in California, voters approved a ballot measure this November aimed at supporting Democrats as a response to the developments in Texas. Across the country, several more states have important decisions to make about their next redistricting steps – and the implications for our democracy are massive.
To further understand how our network of pro-democracy advocates are responding to this landmark moment, State Voices asked Jennie Fisher of Alabama Forward, Angela Lin of Ohio Voice, and Ashley Shelton of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana for their perspective.
Question: Given the movement in some states like Texas to move ahead with mid-decade redistricting in pursuit of partisan political power, how should we be thinking about the impact on our democracy?
- Angela Lin, Ohio Voice: The foundation of our democracy is at risk when people no longer have true representation from their elected officials. When a single party creates district boundaries with the intent to maintain control at the expense of our communities, all Ohioans suffer. We know that our state is more progressive than our legislature and congressional districts allow, as we’ve seen with a legislature that does everything it can to stop abortion access despite a 56 percent majority of Ohioans voting to enshrine abortion in our Constitution in 2023. Right now, the decisions coming out of our legislative bodies and congressional delegation are not representative of who we are as a state. Given the extreme nature of gerrymandering in Ohio, the ballot remains the best avenue for progressive change that will improve the lives of Ohioans and protect our rights.
- Jennie Fisher, Alabama Forward: Voters should choose their leaders, not the other way around. When maps are drawn or redrawn unfairly, it negatively impacts our ability to build a multiracial democracy where all voices matter. The recent attempts in states like Texas to circumvent the systems and processes that have provided structure and legitimacy to the redistricting process for decades is another alarming escalation in the attack on our democracy.
- Ashley Shelton, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana: Louisiana is navigating a separate redistricting fight in the case of Louisiana v. Callais that focuses on racial gerrymandering. In this case, which is awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court, a racially gerrymandered map could take away the ability of Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice – forcing us to ask whether we can really have full citizenship without representation. Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which was designed to stop vote dilution and ensure communities of color can elect representatives of their choice, is at stake. Weakening it would strip away one of the last remaining protections of the VRA. And while the 14th and 15th Amendments were written to protect Black voters after the Civil War, they’re now being reinterpreted to protect those already in power and undermine equal representation. A ruling against Black voters could open the door for states nationwide to eliminate majority-minority districts, dismantling decades of civil rights progress.
Question: How should advocates working towards an accountable, multi-racial democracy respond?
- Angela Lin, Ohio Voice: Redistricting in Ohio is a big fight that has been ongoing for decades, but has particularly intensified in the past 15 years. Fixing gerrymandering in Ohio will ultimately require going back to the ballot so that voters can pass a constitutional change. Power-hungry politicians that oppose fair representation have relied upon confusion, disinformation campaigns, and voter disenfranchisement in an effort to stay in control. Over the years, fair map leaders have mobilized thousands of volunteers to collect millions of signatures on redistricting issues. Our job is to continue engaging those volunteers, educating Ohioans, and building our base so that when the next opportunity presents itself, we have the people power to end gerrymandering in Ohio.
- Jennie Fisher, Alabama Forward: As a nonpartisan organization, this is not about a win for a particular party. This is about accountable representation for every community. It’s about the voters. We have to increase voter education, reduce confusion, and push for process reforms. What was most successful in Alabama was pairing grassroots organizing with legal strategy. Advocates should continue to support litigation that enforces the full implementation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and state constitutional protections, while empowering directly impacted communities to testify, submit community of interest maps, and engage local media about why equitable redistricting is so important.
- Ashley Shelton, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana: When it comes to the racial gerrymandering case in Louisiana in front of the Supreme Court, we need to set the table for the enormity of this moment. Ensuring that the Supreme Court is clear that Black and brown voters won’t stand by and watch them strike down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act should be at the center of our national conversation. We need to inform and increase our organizing and work towards a mass mobilization with a focus on voter registration. Let’s use this moment to not only educate Black and Brown communities about their power, but let’s actualize it!
Question: What do you see as the next step in the redistricting process and how is your Table involved?
- Angela Lin, Ohio Voice: Because Ohio’s previous maps were approved without bipartisan support in 2022, Ohio had to redraw the congressional maps this fall. On October 31, the Ohio Redistricting Commission unanimously passed a 12 (R) – 3 (D) congressional map that will be in effect through 2031. The maps that increase the Republican advantage were drawn behind closed doors, with last-minute hearings that gave Ohio citizens little time to understand how our communities were affected by these new maps. This backroom deal emphasizes the need to take politicians out of the redistricting process. Despite this latest redistricting setback, fair map advocates will continue showing up at hearings, submitting testimony, and making sure politicians know that Ohio voters are paying attention to how they try to silence our voices — but we won’t go quietly. In August, hundreds of Ohioans showed up at the Statehouse for Fair Maps Day, co-organized by Ohio Voice partner Common Cause Ohio, and we will continue to demand equal districts and fight for fair representation.
- Jennie Fisher, Alabama Forward: Our network in Alabama has worked together for the past three years to ensure that all communities across our state have fair representation. The landmark Supreme Court decision in the Allen v Milligan redistricting case created a new congressional district map that enabled marginalized voices across central and south Alabama to finally be heard. Strong voter turnout in that new district was a great example of what can happen when communities come together and all Alabamians believe their vote truly matters. The fight isn’t over, though, and we will continue to fight against unfair redistricting efforts at the local and state level. If or when threats are made to weaken fair representation, we remain vigilant, mobilizing communications, grassroots voices and policy expertise.
- Ashley Shelton, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice in Louisiana: We recently returned from Washington, D.C. after oral arguments in the racial gerrymandering case Louisiana v. Callais. Now, we welcome the support of our full network for in-person and virtual rallies and conversations that you can learn about on our website. We will also be working with partners across the state during the special legislative session this fall to create a national stage for the fight for fair representation. That means organizing a mass mobilization to have Black voters show up and fight for fair maps and showing loudly and clearly to state lawmakers and the Supreme Court that we won’t stand idly by as our voting rights are threatened.
When politicians try to rig the system to protect their power — whether through mid-decade gerrymandering or racial vote dilution — we respond with people power, legal pressure, and moral clarity. As we head into 2026 and beyond, the State Voices Affiliated Network and its partners are proving that a multiracial, accountable democracy isn’t just possible, it’s already being constructed block by block and district by district. The time to act is now. Our votes, our voices, and our future depend on it.
Categories: Integrated Civic Engagement, Voting Access