Pamela,
This Halloween, there's something even scarier than ghosts and goblins, and it's not imaginary.
Politicians are trying to redraw our voting maps in the middle of the decade to help their own political party in the 2026 congressional midterm election.. Their goal is scary but simple: rig our election maps so they can stay in power no matter what voters want.
That's not democracy, it's a nightmare.
Let's be clear: Unlike in other states, the Florida Constitution makes it illegal to draw maps with the intent to favor a political party. We the people of Florida made that illegal in 2010 with a 63% vote that passed the Fair Districts Amendments.
Proposals to draw new maps in Florida right now are a direct response to Donald Trump's call for Republican leaders across the country to redraw districts to benefit Republicans in the 2026 election. Not only is that illegal under Florida's constitution, a majority of Florida voters across political affiliations are opposed to it.
This should not be happening at all. We need to tell our representatives in the Florida Legislature loud and clear: Don't cheat. Don't break the law. Don't redraw the maps in the middle of the decade.
Mid-decade redistricting is a direct attack on fair representation and democratic norms. We can't let it happen. They'll make excuses and they'll try to weaken the voting strength of Black and Brown communities, just to keep themselves in power.
Changing the rules mid-game is not about fairness. It is about control, it ignores the will of the people – and it will cost Florida taxpayers millions of dollars at a time when they need real solutions for the ongoing affordability crisis impacting workers and seniors across our state. When maps are manipulated, communities lose representation, voters' voices are silenced, and trust in democracy erodes.
Voters should always choose their representatives, not the other way around. Every voter deserves to know that their voice matters, their community counts, and their district lines are drawn fairly. Floridians passed the Fair Districts amendments because we believe in fairness, accountability, and a democracy that puts people first.
The attacks on our democracy are scary, but we know that when we come together and take action, we win.
Thank you for being a voice for democracy,
Amy Keith, Executive Director
and the team at Common Cause Florida
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