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Posted 5/1/12

Two important developments occurred yesterday. First, the U.S. Department of Justice gave its blessing to Florida's proposed legislative and congressional maps on Monday, clearing one of the last remaining hurdles for the newly drawn districts to be in place in time for the June 4-8 candidate qualifying period. Shortly after DOJ issued its approval, Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis ruled that Florida can hold congressional elections under the Legislature's new redistricting map this year. Judge Lewis wrote that the congressional plan can be used until he can receive additional evidence and testimony needed to make a ruling on its constitutionality. That decision, though, would not come in time to change the map for the Aug. 14 primary and Nov. 6 general election.

Posted 4/27/12

The League of Women Voters has released Shining a Light: Redistricting Lessons Learned in 2011. This comprehensive white paper highlights the ground breaking efforts of Leagues and other advocates to promote a more fair and transparent redistricting process and also sheds light on key reform opportunities for improving the process over the next decade. The report also includes helpful practices for all advocates to consider as they work to influence redistricting at the local level.

Posted 4/27/12

The Florida Supreme Court signed off on the Senate’s revised redistricting plan this morning. That means all Florida Senate districts are now official, and candidates can file to run within them. Justices rejected the first Senate redistricting proposal, but said in Friday’s ruling that the new version met legal standards. The approved, second version of the Senate map specifically addresses only the issues raised by the court when it rejected the first version. “In this proceeding, we conclude that the opponents have failed to demonstrate that the revised Senate plan as a whole or with respect to any individual district violates Florida’s constitutional requirements,” the majority opinion said.

Posted 4/3/12

On March 27th, the Florida Legislature finished its redistricting do-over, sending a revised Senate map back to the state Supreme Court for final action. If they decide the Senate map again flunks its constitutionality test they will have redraw it themselves to meet the candidate qualification deadlines for 2012 primaries.

In addition to the redrawn districts, Senators selected district numbers randomly by using a pair of Bingo machines. Senators elected from odd-numbered districts will get four-year terms while those with even numbers will get just two years to keep the terms staggered. That still worked to the benefit of most incumbents, though, as 20 of the 29 senators not being term-limited this year received numbers that would enable them to serve more than eight years.

The Senate also did analyses using voter registration figures and prior election results as ordered by the Supreme Court to determine compliance with the minority protection provision.

Posted 3/13/12

On March 9th, the Florida Supreme Court rejected the map for the Florida Senate's new districts. The majority found that eight of the districts didn't comply with the anti-gerrymandering standards that 63 percent of voters approved in 2010. Under those standards, lawmakers aren't permitted to design districts to favor incumbents or parties. They must, as much as possible, draw compact districts without splitting communities. The justices also rejected the Senate's district numbering scheme, ruling it intentionally favored incumbents. Numbering is a factor because all districts are up for election in a redistricting year instead of just half. According to the Orlando Sentinel, "the court's ruling was a thorough — at 234 pages — and discerning judgment on the integrity on the redistricting process." While a majority of justices rejected the Senate map, they unanimously upheld the House map. Now the Senate will have to go back to the drawing board.

Posted 1/13/12

On Monday, the House’s redistricting subcommittees narrowed their options for redistricting to the bills listed below (3 State House, 3 congressional, and 1 State Senate). The maps have already benefited from additional public input since publishing these and other options on December 6. However, if you have not chimed in yet, it’s time to hear from you.

How to Provide Input

There are many ways to provide your input regarding the House’s options for redistricting:

On Friday, January 27, 2012, from 9.am. to 1 p.m. the Redistricting Committee will meet to take up and vote on one State House map, one congressional map, the State Senate map, and any timely filed amendments that pertain to those maps.

Posted 1/11/12

On 9 January, the Florida House’s Redistricting subcommittees narrowed their options for Florida’s state legislative and congressional districts to the following bills:

Visit the House Redistricting web page to learn more about the options that passed, or watch the replay of the subcommittee meetings on the Florida Channel. Catch up on redistricting committee meetings you may have missed at the Florida Channel’s redistricting committee meeting archive.

Posted 1/6/12

On 4 January, amendments were filed for most, but not all, of the proposed redistricting bills scheduled to be heard on Monday (9 January) by the Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee and House Redistricting Subcommittee. Download a summary of the amendments. All the proposed redistricting maps will be considered January 9th! Maps, data and more regarding the amendments are accessible via the “Redistricting Bills” button at www.floridaredistricting.org or here under the “Pending Amendments” section.

Posted 11/29/11

On 28 Nov the Senate Committee on Reapportionment published the initial proposals for redrawing congressional and state legislative district boundaries at the Senate Redistricting website. Plans S000C9002 and S000S9004 are based on testimony heard at the 26 public redistricting hearings held across the state, and according to Committee Chair Senator Don Gaetz, the plans "reflect the unanimous bipartisan decisions made by committee members who directed staff to draw plans after reviewing publicly submitted maps during our last four interim committee meetings."

Time constraints make another round of public hearings impossible, so the Committee has instituted the following means for Floridians to comment on the new maps. Citizens are able to participate by submitting testimony in a number of different ways:

These methods for collecting public input were chosen to provide convenient ways for the public to continue to be fully engaged in the redistricting process. In partnership with the Florida Channel, the feedback received will be broadcast at the next committee meeting on December 6, time permitting, and the entire collection will be posted on the Senate Redistricting website. Public input and testimony will also be welcomed at the meeting, which will be held in room 412 of the W.V. Knott Building at the Capitol Complex. You can watch the committee meeting online on the Senate’s Media Page or The Florida Channel’s Redistricting Video Library.

Posted 10/10/11

Florida Senate Redistricting Committee Chair Senator Don Gaetz announced his Senate Reapportionment Committee will use maps submitted by Fort Walton Beach Tea Party Chair Henry Kelley as the baseline for finalizing congressional and legislative maps from Pensacola to Gainesville. The rare nonpartisan support for using Kelley's maps followed a lengthy discussion over the benefits of drawing legislative and congressional district lines that run north-south or east-west. Gaetz said Democrats’ and Republicans’ acceptance of the plans is strong evidence that public input is playing a strong role in this year’s redistricting process.

Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux urged the committee to urge to draw district lines that use county boundaries and geographic landmarks, such as roads, rivers and railroad tracks, because those kind of boundaries allow him and fellow election supervisors to keep voters better informed about what voting district they’re in.

Posted 9/22/11

Florida Senate Redistricting Committee Chair Senator Don Gaetz announced an accelerated redistricting timeline which targets 5 Dec as the Committee's deadline for finalizing new district maps. The new deadline will give citizens the month of December as a public comment period, including virtual meetings throughout the state. As a result, the Committee's final recommendations should be ready to go before the full Senate during the first week of session.

In related news, the League of Women Voters of Florida publicly acknowledged the hard work accomplished by legislators over the summer and recognized their efforts to keep moving the redistricting process forward. Read the letter.

Posted 9/22/11

On 19 September, the Florida House’s Redistricting Committee and its Subcommittees began reviewing and discussing the public input gathered at this summer’s 26 community meetings and input obtained via proposed maps and other written suggestions from Florida residents. The House’s Redistricting Subcommittees expect to finish the review of public input by 3 October. This includes a review and comparison of the different complete statewide maps received thus far from Florida residents. Redistricting Committee Chairman Will Weatherford suggested that the public submit any new ideas (via MyDistrictBuilder, in writing, via social media, etc.) for redistricting maps before November 1. Public comment will still be welcomed and needed throughout the redistricting process; however, public input in November and thereafter will be used in response to legislative proposals that are already working their way through the process.

Weatherford set a goal for the House, Senate and Congressional Redistricting Subcommittees to each approve at least three complete options for their respective maps. This means that the Redistricting Committee will have for its consideration at least three redistricting maps for Congress, three for the State House and three for the State Senate.

The tentative schedule for October 3 includes a 12:30-2:30 p.m. meeting of the Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee (404 HOB), and then 3:00-5:00 p.m. meetings of the House Redistricting Subcommittee (404 HOB) and Senate Redistricting Subcommittee (17 HOB). To watch these meetings live, check the schedule at the Florida Channel the day before the meetings. You can also watch video replays of the meetings. Review the Meeting Records through 19 September, including the Summer 2011 public hearings.

District Court upholds Fair Districts amendments

Posted 9/10/11

On September 9th in Miami, Judge Ursula Ungaro quickly and decisively threw out the legal challenge to Amendment 6 brought by U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and Mario Diaz-Balart and joined by the Florida House of Representatives. Ungaro rejected the arguments of the politicians and ruled from the bench that Amendment 6, as passed by Florida voters, is constitutional and enforceable.

This decision marks the seventh time that Florida politicians have tried to defeat the people's amendments in court -- and seven times the people of Florida have prevailed.

Department of Justice approves Fair Districts amendments

Posted 6/4/11

On Thursday, June 2, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced its approval of Florida’s two “Fair Districts” amendments — measures approved overwhelmingly by Florida voters last fall that limit state lawmakers’ freedom to gerrymander districts in an effort to ensure one-party control.

The Justice Department’s approval was necessary to implement the amendments because the federal Voting Rights Act requires certain states to submit changes to voting laws to the department so it can ensure the changes will not result in diminished minority voting rights.

Legislators set aside millions to defend redistricting

Posted 5/5/11

Reporters at the Orlando Sentinel did some research and found that the Florida House alone has spent close to a million dollars fighting the Fair Districts amendments. The Senate has done the same. And they are using YOUR tax dollars to pay some firms $300 per hour or $70,000 per month! "While bemoaning deep cuts to health care, education and public-employee benefits, Florida lawmakers have stockpiled millions of dollars in funds that they control and are packing away even more to pay legal bills as Florida begins the partisan process of redistricting this year."

Obviously the Tallahassee politicians are angry that Florida citizens passed Fair Districts and they are still searching for ways to continue their unfair lock on political power. They have passed laws to make it harder for people to vote. They have passed measures to snatch power from the Florida Supreme Court and to try to control court decisions. And they have done everything they can to financially cripple groups who are known to fight for democracy in Florida. But their main goal is to avoid following the Fair Districts standards.

Fair Districts gathered the signatures. Fair Districts won in court. Fair Districts won the election. But the politicians care more about keeping their unfair advantage than respecting your vote.

We have come so far, but our fight is not over! Find out how you can help.

Redistricting process begins in the legislature

Posted 4/27/11

The Florida Legislature is moving forward with the redistricting process. The Senate and House have both named their redistricting committees, and the Senate has published a Reapportionment Timeline. House Redistricting Committee Chair Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel) and his Vice Chair Stephen Precourt (F-Orlando) have announced 24-30 joint House and Senate public hearings to be held from 12 Jul-17 Oct, including one each in Pensacola and Panama City. Meetings will be scheduled every other week in a specific region, and the Florida Channel will webcast as many as possible.

The House website provides access to the MyDistrictBuilder software using the button on the right (you may have to download and install some additional free software to view this page). Use the “Additional Resources” links on the lower right side of the page to access site pages 2-3. The Senate’s District Builder software was beta-tested from Feb-May, and will launched in June. The Senate’s 23-member Committee on Reapportionment is chaired by our own Senator Don Gaetz, and boasts two other Panhandle Senators. The House Redistricting Committee has no Panhandle representation. Check here and on the House and Senate websites for updates as Florida's reapportionment process unfolds.

Redistricting News Articles

Judge won't put Florida congressional map on hold (4/30/12)
State congressional, legislative districts approved by Justice Department (4/30/12)
Before the ink dries on Florida’s redistricting maps, lawsuits fly (2/9/12)
Florida redistricting plans get final passage (2/9/12)
Local legislators eye upcoming session (1/6/12)
Escambia loses representative clout as Okaloosa, Santa Rosa grow (12/7/11)
Redrawn districts aim to put logic over politics (11/28/11)
Don Gaetz: 'When everyone is equally dissatisfied, justice has been done' (11/20/11)
EDITORIAL: Legal efforts by Florida House of Representatives to quash Fair Districts amendments expensive, unseemly (10/20/2011)
Senate redistricting proposed maps (10/6/11)
Public to get 'second bite' at redistricting (9/22/11)
EDITORIAL: A fair shake for Fair Districts (9/15/11)
Drawing fair districts? Oh, sure (9/15/11) (Subscription Required)
EDITORIAL: End costly redistricting fight (9/14/11)
U.S. judge upholds Florida "Fair District" law voters approved in November (9/9/11)
Maps crafted by political insiders affect all Floridians (7/17/11)
Legislators hear residents' redistricting advice at local hearing (6/21/11)
EDITORIAL: Politics still sticks in districts (6/14/11)