Public Testimony to the WA State Redistricting Commission—TESTIFY NOW

Hear from Rena Connell about her experience testifying before the Redistricting Commission (3.5 minutes). Thanks to KSER and LWV Magazine on the Air for this interview. Need more assistance? See our Speak Up School videos. Click the link to see these 20 min presentations.

1. Why Redistricting is important & why you should testify —View:  Video  | Slides  , Spanish: Video | Slides

2. How to write Testimony—View Video  |  Slides  , Spanish: Video | Slides

3. How to Testify  —View:  Video | Slides ,  Spanish: Video | Slides

Speak Up Schools are completed and now it is time to testify. The third round of the Commission's public input meetings is scheduled in October.

Tues. October 5, 7:00pm - Legislative Maps Feedback

Sat. October 9, 10:00am - Congressional Map Feedback

Commission outreach meeting will be held by Zoom on Monday evenings 7pm - 9pm or Saturdays either 10am - 12noon or 1pm - 3pm. See the commission website for more details. 

As of 8/1/21, Testimony Count  = 310 / 2000 -- 15.5% 

The commission needs to hear from you. 

Maps

The LWVWA redistricting team released their final maps based on communities of interest. Please see our Redistricting Map page for more details on input and maps. 

The Redistricting Commission has also released maps. You can find them on the Commission website. 

Schedule - Testimony & Mapping Listening Sessions
LWVWA Statewide Listening session explore example maps and answer questions about your testimony. Public Testimony to the Commission are by Congressional District, but you should testify about your Legislative and Congressional district lines.

Note: Blue writing means there is a link to register. CLICK THE LINK TO REGISTER

September 2021
9/21 - Commissioners will each release their proposed state legislative district map.

9/28 – Commissioners will each release their proposed congressional district map.

October 2021
10/5 7:00pm - Redistricting Commission - Public Input on Draft Legislative Maps

10/9 10:00am - Redistricting Commission - Public Input on Draft Congressional Maps

10/22 – Deadline to ensure full consideration of third-party map submissions by the Commission.

November 2021
11/15 midnight - Redistricting Commission - Constitutional DEADLINE FOR MAP COMPLETION

2021 Speak up Schools

People Powered Fair Maps is a nationwide redistricting campaign of the League of Women Voters of the United States focused on creating fair voting districts in all 50 states. Here at the League of Women Voters of Washington State, a major way we work to redistricting reform is our Speak Up School project. 

Goals:  

• Put on 10-15 Speak Up Schools all over the state between February - May 2021
  DONE. We held 8 Complete Speak Up Schools,  5 additional partial schools including Redistricting 101 sessions and many other online talks reaching over 3000 registrations and 700 individuals.  
• Have over 2000 people testify to the commission during public meeting in mid-2021
• Hold the 2021 Redistricting Commission accountable to the people of Washington by publicly documenting the desires of the residents of our state for voting districts that represent them. See our maps page where we are doing draft CD and LD maps. 

What is a Speak up School? 

A power-packed training session to inspire effective testimony to the 2021 Washington State Redistricting Commission. Find out more about the commission in our Census & Redistricting Tool Kit. Speak Up Schools are a targeted strategy to improve the quality, content and diversity of input to our Redistricting Commission. The 2021 Washington State Redistricting Commission will be hosting public input meeting during the spring and fall of 2021. In the past, testimony at these hearings has not been coherent, powerful or compelling and make it difficult for commissioners to take action on the input. The League want to change this in 2021. We will provide training and encourage a wide range of people to testify. These workshops will share tools to help participants find their own voice and build effective, personal testimony. 

Who should attend?
Everyone. These schools are targeted toward people who know why redistricting is important and may be hesitant to testify in front of a commission. Each session will include training on how to testify effectively, as well as suggestion for make your talking points compelling. We will prepare a diverse range of community members to speak up in ways that matter! Contact your Local League to find out if they are holding a Speak Up School. 

Speak Up School Resources

The LWVWA Speak Up School development team offers a tremendous about of resources to help Speak Up School facilitators better run their workshops. See the comprehensive Guidebook, powerpoints for 4 community led modules, marketing assistance and more. Follow the links to the folders and the specific documents.

Main Speak Up School Resources Folder

Speak Up School Guidebook

SUS Logos

Module Powerpoints and handouts

Speak Up School Host Training Recordings:
Part 1 Intro,       Part 2 Key Speaker,       Part 3 Data Lenses,       Part 4 Testimony,       Part 5 Testify,       Part 6 Conclusion.

Apply for a Speak Up School Grant from the LWVWA Civic Ed Fund

In Washington State we are activating people around redistricting through our Speak Up Schools. Local Leagues can apply for a grant of $350 to put on your Speak Up School through LWVWA's People Powered Fair Maps grant from LWVUS.  Grant supported Speak Up Schools must be completed by June 2021. A final report is due within 3 months of the completion of your event. 

Download Pre-Approved Grant Application Here

Download Budget Template. 

Please email both your grant application and your proposed budget and then the final report to Alison McCaffree @ amccaffree@lwvwa.org. You will be notified of your acceptance after the LWVWA Civic Education Fund reviews and accepts it; in approximately 4 weeks depending on their meeting schedule. You will receive your funds within 30 days of acceptance. 

How do I learn more?

The LWVWA statewide Speak Up School team is here to assist any organization to host a school. Click below to download the detailed information on how to put on a school, who to partner with and what benefits you, your organization and your participant will hope to receive. This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen partnerships with diverse coalition of group and individuals who are concerned with the create representative maps - and who are committed to testifying. 

Who can I contact?

For questions please contact Issue Chair, Alison McCaffree at speakupschool@lwvwa.org or 253-720-6813