According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) [every ethnic, religion, race, creed of people), there is indeed a difference between "Redistricting" and "Reapportionment." In order for our votes to count most efficiently and effectively, we need to understand how this difference affects the outcome of the political make up of persons who will be making decisions about our future, here and now.
Ok, Redistricting is the process of redrawing the geographic boundaries of the election districts for legislative bodies such as school boards, city councils, county commissions, state legislatures, and the US House of Representatives.
This creates a man-made, or political shift of voters and votes!
Reapportionment, on the other hand, is the process of determining how many of the 435 seats in the US House of Representatives will be assigned to each state based upon total population count from the Census data.
The first most recent census data was released in 2011.
Redistricting is NOT Reapportionment!!!!
Be alert and knowledgeable of the fact that "Redistricting" can result in diluting the Black vote. This means watering down the number of black people who will be eligible and able to vote. Couple that with the number of black voters who won't vote and we got a familly, community, city/county, state, etc. that is set up for failure in Washington, DC where the decisions are made!!!
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW to STRENGTHEN THE BLACK VOTE?:
1) Register everybody eligible to vote in your family, community, city/council, etc. You can contact the NAACP at
www.naacpnet.org for Voter Registration information, local MVA, public libraries, US Post Office, etc. or e-mail the NAACP at redistricting@naacpnet.org with specific questions or concerns about redistricting in your community, etc;
2) GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!! TAKE NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, FAMILY WITH YOU TO VOTE because as you can see, EACH and EVERY VOTE still does make a difference;
What is Cracking?
This is the scheme of dividing a highly concentrated area of minority people into smaller "districts" and spreading those smaller "minority" districts among larger "white" districts. This results in the black vote being the minority any way you add it up.
Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to efforts to redistrict your community. Pay attention to the future of your family, values, beliefs, dreams, goals, etc.
What is Packing?
This is the scheme of drawing district lines so that there is an over-concentration of minority populations. This is typically how "ghettos" are formed and then get over-looked for services, etc. and fall victim to stigmas, failures, crime, illiteracy, etc.
Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to efforts to redistrict your community. Pay attention to the future of your family, values, beliefs, dreams, goals, etc.
What is Stacking?
This is another scheme of drawing district lines so that large populations of a minority population is included with a larger white population intending to deprive minority voters of ever casting a majority vote.
Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to efforts to redistrict your community. Pay attention to the future of your family, values, beliefs, dreams, goals, etc.
PROTECT YOUR VOTING RIGHTS and stay alert and involved with the NAACP about Redistricting in YOUR neighbrhood!
Contact the NAACP at redistricting@naacpnet.org or (410) 580-5675 with questions or concerns and ways to be invovled for fair voting/elections in the upcoming elections.
Visit:
www.naacp.org Remember, each one, teach one ... smile;
Passing the peace,
Posted By: agnes levine
Sunday, June 19th 2011 at 3:22PM
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