Wyoming lawmakers are beginning the process of redrawing boundaries for state legislative districts this week, which will determine which parts of the state get to elect 60 House representatives and 30 senators. Anastasia Marchese with the Equality State Policy Center says redistricting can determine which candidates you get to vote for, and which neighborhoods will be voting with you. She says the best district maps are ones that align candidates with the communities they would be serving.
“You want to be represented by the people that you elect in to office. Redistricting is important for accurate representation, which then translates into much more equitable public policy.”
Marchese points to a recent report showing that creating multi-member districts, where more than one senator or representative can be elected to represent the entire district, could help elect more women. Women make up just 18 percent of the state’s legislators. Wyoming has not used multi-member districts since the 1992 Redistricting Act. Marchese’s group and others also will be keeping an eye out for any potential gerrymandering, where dominant political parties in states draw district boundaries specifically to gain electoral advantage.
