The Native People’s Action, Alaskans for Fair Redistricting, and Alaska Public Interest Research Group, all surrogate groups for Democrats, is training people today on how to testify about the new redistricting maps now under consideration.
The political maps will redraw all the state House boundaries, an exercise that takes place every time there in a U.S. Census. Public testimony is important because when the Democrats sue over the final map, as they usually do, the courts take into account public testimony.
No such training and organizing effort appears to be underway on behalf of Republican Party interests in what is a political exercise to create fair boundaries that, as much as possible, keep districts compact, contiguous, and socio-economically related, while apportioning the same basic number of people to each district.
The Democrats who testify during the upcoming meetings of the Redistricting Board will have prearranged and coordinated statements they will get advice on at today’s training in order to enhance the power of the Democratic Party in Alaska, which has about 79,000 registered members. Republicans number over 144,000 registered voters. But district lines can be drawn in a way — called gerrymandering — that gives one side an unusual and unfair political advantage in elections.
The maps under consideration can be found at this link.
The Alaska Redistricting Board has announced its next meeting for Friday, Sept. 17, at 9 am, during which the public may attend in-person, via livestream, or by teleconference.
Meeting location:
– Anchorage Legislative Information Office
– 1500 W Benson Blvd, Anchorage, AKÂ 99503
– Denali Conference Room, 1st Floor
The livestream will be available at www.akl.tv. Â
The public may listen or testify via the Legislative Teleconference System by dialing:Â
Â
 – Anchorage 563-9085
 – Juneau 586-9085
 – Other 844-586-9085
When available, the agenda and board packet will be posted to the public notice listing: http://notice.alaska.gov.
