We are disappointed to report that both chambers of the Florida legislature have approved the Governor’s mid-decade redistricting proposal. We believe that this newly passed map violates the Florida Constitution's explicit prohibition on partisan gerrymandering, and it’s disheartening to see our state’s legislators sign off on a rushed mid-decade redistricting job without any court orders necessitating that action.
Just yesterday, the Governor’s staff acknowledged that this map was developed utilizing the same Census data used in 2022 to draw the current Congressional district map. With no new data to justify the effort, how can voters have confidence that this was done for anything other than partisan reasons? Especially when the map was distributed – in a red/blue format – to a preferred media outlet before it was transmitted to the state legislature.
Redistricting requires many months of careful consideration of data and community input. Florida voters deserve a thoughtful, deliberative, and open redistricting process in the sunshine. And, while SCOTUS’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais is not what the League was hoping for, the fact remains that that decision did not compel the state of Florida to redraw its maps.
Today, Florida voters were let down by their elected officials. The majority of Floridians have expressed, time and time again, that they do not like partisan gerrymandering. They didn’t like it in 2010, when they approved the Fair Districts amendments to the state Constitution, and they don’t like it now. We will keep you updated as this story unfolds, and will likely be working with partner organizations to advance this issue through the Court system.