Letter to the Redistricting Committee
Dear Redistricting Committee:
It is crucial that the redistricting process is as transparent as possible and that as many people have the opportunity to be involved in the decisions that will impact who their voice in the legislature is for potentially the next decade. We thank you that there will be 14 hearings around the state to bring in Kansan’s voices. Yet, there remain several steps this committee should take to ensure constituent participation. These steps are not egregious in their scope and should be considered to ensure Kansans have confidence in the procedures that will shape our collective future.
It is vital to remove as many barriers as possible to accessibility and participation by the general public. Holding hearings in an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliant space is a wonderful start. There are specific steps your committee can take to expand access. Providing both sign language and Spanish language interpreters as a course of action without requiring the affected population to request services 24-48 hours in advance removes the extra hurdle Kansans would have to clear to attend the hearings. The public should be notified of the availability of such services so it is clear that they have access. Providing interpreters ensures the meetings are compliant with both the ADA and the Civil Rights Act.
We request that several meetings be held during the evening and on the weekends to accommodate working schedules.
Lastly, we strenuously recommend the inclusion of maps and/or statements submitted by Communities of Interest (COI). A COI can be defined by a population with a common social, economic, racial, or geographic interest where a redistricting line through that population would result in diluting their voting power and undermining their participation in future elections.
Thank you for your attention. If you have questions, please feel free to let us know.
Thank you,
Kansas Hispanic & Latino American Affairs Commission (KHLAAC)
aude.negrete@ks.gov Office: (785) 296-2161
Kansas African American Affairs Commission (KAAAC)
stacey.knoell@ks.gov Office: (785) 296-1903
Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC)
martha.gabehart@ks.gov900 Office: (785) 296-6525
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