In battles across the country, real redistricting reform is finally set to make waves in 2016

From the Brennan Center‘s Eric Petry:

2016 could be a blockbuster year for redistricting reform. Significant efforts have been launched in at least nine states, the most in recent memory. A ballot initiative creating an independent redistricting commission is set to go before South Dakota voters in November, and a petition drive for a commission is well underway in Illinois. Building on reform efforts from last year, Colorado may also have a ballot initiative this fall, and legislatures in Maryland and Ohio could address redistricting in 2016. New proposals also have been put forward in Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Virginia.

There are many reasons for this groundswell of redistricting reform, but one of them seems to be a growing recognition and acceptance among elected officials and the American people that improving the redistricting process is a critical part of fixing our democracy. Even President Obama called attention to the problem of partisan gerrymandering in his State of the Union address. “We’ve got to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters and not the other way around,” he said. This momentum comes not a moment too soon. With the 2020 Census quickly approaching, time is beginning to run short for states to implement new systems before the next round of redistricting.

As the year progresses, the Brennan Center will continue to monitor these proposals, as well as others that are introduced.