Oregon Redistricting Campaign Marketing Toolkitlwvor.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Redistricting-Campaign-Mark… · redistricting commission with strict criteria for drawing district

Oregon Redistricting Campaign Marketing Toolkit

By: Candalynn Johnson and Norman Turrill

Table of Contents

Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

Talking Points ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

Frequently Asked Questions ………………………………………………………………………… 3-14

Social Media ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 15-17

Speakers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 18

Recruitment ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18

Other Media Outreach ………………………………………………………………………………… 18-23

Example Graphics ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 24

Media Coverage Links ……………………………………………………………………………………… 25

Additional Resources …………………………………………………………………………………… 26-27

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Introduction

This toolkit is for League members and community partners to use as a reference when

promoting a redistricting forum in your area and in order to talk about the issue to local media,

colleagues, friends, and family. Please contact Candalynn at [email protected] for more

questions or if you are interested, or know someone who might be interested, in having us

speak at an event or meeting in your area.

Talking points / Key Messages About Redistricting Reform Forums

• The League of Women Voters of Oregon has received a grant from the League of

Women Voters of the US Education Fund to create a program for state-based education

that aims to promote a reform to our current redistricting process here in Oregon.

• The LWVOR and LWVUS have positions on redistricting that call for a reform that would

require an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to create an independent

redistricting commission with strict criteria for drawing district boundaries.

• The League supports redistricting reform that would make our system less susceptible

to abuse and unrepresentative distortions. With an independent redistricting

commission, we would take the process of redistricting out of the hands of partisan

politicians and back into the hands of voters.

• The goal of reforming our redistricting process is to change who draws the lines of our

districts, increase transparency and public participation in the redistricting process,

clarify the requirements of where district lines get drawn, and to close the loopholes in

our current system by clarifying redistricting criteria and requirements.

• The League supports reform because we focus on the lines, not the politics.

• Voters should be choosing their representatives, not representatives choosing their

voters.

• A fair process benefits everyone regardless of party affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Redistricting

1. What is redistricting?

Redistricting is the process of redrawing the lines that define political districts. For

legislative and congressional districts, this typically occurs after the completion of the

federal census every ten years. Redistricting should change districts to more accurately

reflect the changes in numbers and interests of constituents.

2. How Does the Census impact redistricting in Oregon?

Every 10 years the U.S. Constitution requires that a census be taken and that congressional

districts be reapportioned between the states. The census does this by collecting population

and demographic data with surveys that are sent out throughout the U.S. Communities

benefit the most when the census counts everyone. When you respond to the census, you

help your community gets its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal

funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. This is why

it is very important to participate in the census in 2020.

Contrary to senators, of which every state has two, the number of representatives per state

are determined solely based on population and the census ensures that each community

gets the right number of representatives in government by getting an up-to-date tally on

population demographics in each county and state.

3. Why is it contentious about having a citizenship question on the census? Is the census

supposed to count non-citizens? Do they get counted for funding and representation

purposes?

Currently, many minority voters are not participating due to fear of racial profiling and

family deportation and this can lead to the disenfranchisement of documented citizens of

color.

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The census is required to count all residents of all areas, citizens and non-citizens, legal and

illegal alike. If a citizenship question is included in the census forms, some fear that this will

scare some residents into not returning the forms, and then funding and representation

that depend on the census counts will suffer.

4. How is the number of congressional districts decided?

The number of congressional districts is set to be 435 by federal statute and could

conceivably change, but it is unlikely. Reapportionment is the process by which these

districts are assigned to states. This process is also set in federal statute and is a

determinative, ridged process.

5. Why is congressional district 2 so big?

It was all about creating a district that had equal population to the other congressional

districts in Oregon. Since very few people live in eastern Oregon, the district had to be that

large. Furthermore, since the mountains are lower in southern Oregon, the mapmakers may

have decided to cross into southwest Oregon there to add more population to the district

and to allow for improved transportation links.

6. Will our reform proposal for an independent multipartisan commission draw maps for

both legislative and congressional districts?

Yes, the current proposal is to remove the process of drawing congressional and legislative

districts out of the hands of the Oregon state legislature and into the hands of voters in the

form of a commission.

7. How are cities, school districts, and community districts redistricted and does this reform

address them?

Where such entities have districts, they also have their own processes in their charters or

bylaws. The League’s redistricting proposal would not change those processes.

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8. What is gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering is when elected or appointed officials in charge of redistricting reconfigure

districts to favor a political party, incumbent, or candidate. Often the purpose of

gerrymandering is to also create uncompetitive races or “safe districts” where districts are

drawn to give one party or interest a clear advantage and secure incumbency.

There are 3 common types of gerrymandering:

Partisan: Where parties who are in control of the redrawing the districts, do so in a way

that solidifies or even increases the number of seats of their party in the legislature or

congress.

Bipartisan: Where typically both parties are equally represented in the decision making

process and negotiate or trade in order for each party to have safer districts to protect their

respective interests or incumbents.

Racial: Refers to a process in which district lines are drawn to prevent racial minorities from

electing their preferred candidates.

There are two ways that gerrymandering is often implemented with the help in recent

technology:

Cracking: Spreads opposition voters across districts comfortably favoring the

gerrymandering party, wasting opposition party votes in districts that their party can’t

possibly win.

Stacking: Places as many opposition party supporters into as few districts as possible such

that the opposition wins as few seats as possible.

9. Does Oregon have a problem with gerrymandering?

We live in a state where partisan elected officials may be tempted to distort the districts

they represent for their personal or partisan advantage. Whenever partisan elected officials

are in charge of redistricting, we allow a system where gerrymandering can take priority

over fair representation. According to the 2012 City Club of Portland study report, every

attempt by the legislature to redistrict the state between 1910 and 2010 has failed in some

way. Oregon often has had both bipartisan and partisan examples of Gerrymandering.

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Example: Senator Jackie Winters has said that she has had to switch houses in order to run

again for her district because she was drawn out of it.

10. Why do we need redistricting reform?

Reform could make our system less susceptible to gerrymandering, abuse and

unrepresentative distortions. With an independent redistricting commission, we would take

the process of redistricting out of the hands of partisan politicians and back into the hands

of voters.

11. Who would likely oppose this reform?

With a Democratic supermajority and a Democratic Governor, the current system of

redistricting in Oregon favors the Democratic party; therefore, Democratic leaders and

legislators will likely oppose this reform. However, gerrymandering is a process issue, a

double-edged sword, and any dominant political party could unfairly use it.

12. How likely is it that we will be able to get legislators to approve this?

Unlikely, since the Democrats now have supermajorities in both houses of the legislature

and will be tempted to gerrymander the state’s congressional and legislative districts.

However, since redistricting is a process issue that cuts both ways, the shoe may be on the

other foot in the future (as it has been in the past), and the legislature would be smart to

adopt a fair redistricting process for the long run. So far there have been a few legislators

who have spoken in favor of redistricting reform.

13. Who currently supports reform efforts?

A diverse coalition of good government groups and those groups who are unlikely to have

any influence over the redistricting process.

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14. What is the Secretary of State doing about redistricting? Is there a task force or a

committee?

The Secretary of State organized a “Redistricting Reform Task Force” in 2017. It was

composed of representatives from all major political parties and several nonpartisan

groups. Norman Turrill was the representative for the LWVOR. This Task Force produced a

report, a draft bill based on the California statute, and other materials that can be found at

https://sos.oregon.gov/Pages/independent-redistricting.aspx. That draft bill was

incomplete. The Redistricting Matters Coalition completed that draft into the current draft

bill that is being further considered. The Secretary of State is now not involved with this

campaign.

15. Why do we need such an elaborate reform process? Why is the proposal so long and why

should all of that be in the Oregon Constitution?

To insulate the redistricting process from politics. Voters should have control of the process,

not politicians who have a built-in conflict of interest with the results of the process.

The current process for redistricting is imbedded in the state’s constitution, supplemented

with a statute, so a constitutional amendment will be required to change the process. The

California constitutional amendment was also quite long in order to cover all the

possibilities in the process. The League usually opposes long constitutional amendments,

but all the detail is necessary in this case to get all required features into one proposal for

eventual consideration by the voters

16. Who would be motivated or eligible to serve on the commission? How would they be

compensated?

Since tens of thousands applied to be commissioners in California in 2010, we think the

same will happen in Oregon except with a smaller number. Commissioners would be

compensated the same as legislators, but only while they are working.

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17. Why is the proposed commission set up 3 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 5 non-affiliated

or other party? Why is this commission disproportionate to the voters?

The commission aims at balancing politics in Oregon in order to give no party a clear

advantage in the process over another party. It is not meant to be proportional

representation of the parties in Oregon, as that would create a process similar to our where

one party ends up having more influence in the party then others.

The reason that the group of 5 is bigger than the Dems and Republicans is because it is

trying to create space for all of the other types of voters in Oregon such as: unaffiliated,

Independents, and all of our 3rd party voters. These five commissions actually are seats

available to a very wide range of voters in Oregon.

18. “Registered” to a party does not always reflect political views, especially with our closed

primary system in Oregon. Why don’t we used a progressive/conservative scoring guide

instead of registration to determine political affiliation and ensure political balance on the

commission?

Because we don’t have such scoring for all voters in Oregon. Furthermore, the commission

is not designed to be representative; it is designed to balance the various political interests

of the state so that voters have control of the redistricting process, not incumbent office

holders.

19. Why were retired judges picked to be on the Applicant Review Panel? Why only judges?

The California constitutional amendment required the state’s nonpartisan Auditor to

perform the duties of the Applicant Review Panel. However, Oregon has no elected auditor,

so another solution was needed. Judges are experienced at making unbiased decisions

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20. Would the Applicant Review Panel and the first 7 commissioners be required to make the

commission balanced in other ways such as: race, gender, geography, etc? Why is this not

elaborated in the proposal for the amendment?

Balancing representation is part of the proposal, but there is a limit on how much balancing

can be done with just 11 commissioners. As for why it is not specified in detail in the

proposal, the reason for this is because often those kinds of details are added later in

statutes in order to not have too complex of a ballot measure.

21. How would the requirements on commissioners, such as not being allowed to receive

communications about redistricting from anyone outside of a public hearing, be

enforced? Can a commissioner be removed from their position?

If a commissioner was caught doing that, there is a process for removing a commissioner for

cause built into the League’s proposal.

22. Since the commissioners serve a term of 10 years, is there a system in place to fill

vacancies in the commission in case of something like someone dying or moving?

Yes, any vacancy would be filled by the remaining commissioners by selecting a new

commissioner from the original three pools of applicants.

23. How are we defining “partisan fairness” and “competitive districts” in this reform?

These terms are not defined in the League’s proposal, but are left to the commission to use

the best definitions available from political scientists. Because any change in the

redistricting process must be an Oregon constitutional amendment, we are painfully aware

that we should not put anything into the constitution that might need to change over time.

The legislature could also provide more detail for parts of the process by statute.

24. Aren’t some districts in Oregon always going to be uncompetitive?

Yes, some districts in eastern Oregon will likely always be Republican and some districts in

Portland will likely always be Democratic; the competition in these districts will come in

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primary elections. However, other areas in the Willamette Valley and perhaps on the Pacific

coast could have competitive districts.

25. Doesn’t this process of filtering out applicants with a conflict of interest eliminate

everyone who would qualify until no one would fit the requirements?

No, the purpose of the Applicant Review Panel of three retired judges is to select applicants

with relevant skills, education, background and representation. In 2010, California had some

30,000 applicants apply and had some 6,000 complete long questionnaires. There are many

politically active people who can apply here in Oregon who meet the screening

requirements and do not have conflicts of interest.

26. Why are we copying California's model and not another states? Has California’s process

actually worked? How many people applied for the commission?

California’s model most closely matched the goals of the Secretary of State’s Redistricting

Reform Task Force. In most other states, even where they have an “independent”

commission, the process is in varying degrees controlled by political leaders who have a

conflict of interest with the results of the process. California’s process has actually been

implemented and produced more competitive districts in their state. In 2010, California had

some 30,000 applicants apply and had some 6,000 complete long questionnaires.

27. Can you really select truly nonpartisan people on the commission?

No, everyone has their own opinions, and so cannot be totally nonpartisan. However, with

the proposed elaborate process for selecting a commission, the politics of commission

membership can be balanced with people without conflicts of interest. Furthermore, the

proposed procedures require at least one vote for a final map from each of the three pools

of commissioners.

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28. Where would the money for this commission come from? Would this require more money

from the general fund?

Money is always budgeted for the legislature to do the redistricting. For the first

implementation of the redistricting commission proposal, the legislature’s budgeted

redistricting funds would be reallocated to the commission. For later decades, the

legislature would be required to budget the necessary funds.

29. What if we had another type of election system? Wouldn’t it make the redistricting issue

not an issue?

Yes, it could make redistricting less important or not needed at all. For example, if we used

districts with three or more representatives elected at once with a ranked-choice election

method, then representation would improve and the district boundaries would be less

important. If we used a proportional representative election method like is done in many

other countries of the world, then there would no need to be any district boundaries.

30. What if Oregon moved to open primaries? Would that effect the selection process

currently proposed in the reform?

The commission is not designed to be representative; it is designed to balance the various

political interests of the state so that voters have control of the redistricting process, not

incumbent office holders. If Oregon changed to an open primary system without party

registration, then we would also have to change the proposed redistricting commission

selection process. However, that seems unlikely to happen in Oregon.

31. Why can’t we set up a nonpartisan computer system or AI to draw district lines?

The short answer is that computers are not that smart (yet). A computer could perhaps

handle one or two concrete criteria such as equal population and contiguous areas;

however, computers cannot handle more subjective criteria such as communities of

interest, partisan fairness and competitiveness. Redistricting is inherently a political process

and requires humans to use judgement in making such subjective decisions. Artificial

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Intelligence (AI) computer systems require training using thousands of good examples; we

have only a handful of good redistricting examples.

32. What does the League think of Kevin Mannix’s redistricting reform proposal? How is it

different than the League’s? How do we plan to move forward with this?

Both the Mannix proposal and the League’s propose an eleven member commission; that is

where the similarities end. The commissioners for the Mannix proposal would be selected

by county commissioners, some of which are nonpartisan and others are partisan. Each

commissioner would be selected by particular county commissioners, some by one county

and others by several smaller counties. Therefore, the redistricting commissioners would

represent hugely different populations and the process would be skew toward smaller,

more rural and conservative areas of the state.

Furthermore, the primary criterion in the Mannix proposal for drawing districts would be

that “Each district shall be as compact in area as possible and the aggregate linear distance

of all district boundaries shall be as short as possible.” Compact districts can also be

gerrymandered and would skew the process toward the more rural conservative parts of

the state, since more progressive voters would be “packed” into fewer urban districts.

District shape does not matter in redistricting.

33. Has Oregon ever had a midterm redistricting session?

No, but it is possible using the current redistricting process by the legislature, just like what

happened in Texas. The League’s proposal would close this loophole in the current process.

34. Are Leagues across the nation pushing for redistricting reform?

Yes, in most states that have not already adopted some reform. Four states had ballot

measures adopted with League support or leadership in the 2018 general election:

Michigan, Colorado, Missouri and Utah. The League has also brought court cases in states

like Maryland, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas.

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35. Why now?

Besides the coming census in 2020, there is never a bad time to advocate for fair

representation and for a process that lets voters hold their elected officials accountable by

promoting competitive districts and the end of gerrymandering. The closer we get to the

next scheduled redistricting (in 2021), the harder reform becomes, because whoever has

the current advantage in the legislature will oppose giving up control over the process.

Another factor is that Oregon may receive a 6th congressional member after the 2020

census, changing the way that we have been drawing congressional district lines for a long

time. It is always important at these critical junctures to examine current processes to make

sure that it is as fair as possible.

36. Where are we in the process of getting reform? What is the timeline to get the

amendment adopted?

Several collaborating good government groups have completed a draft constitutional

amendment, which is based on the last draft from the Secretary of State’s Redistricting

Reform Task Force and the California constitutional amendment passed by the voters in

2008. We want this to next go to Legislative Council to be put into the form of a bill for the

legislature to consider.

The necessary Oregon constitutional amendment would have to be on the 2020 general

election ballot so that the new process could be used immediately in the 2021 redistricting

after the 2020 census. This means that either the legislature would have to refer a proposal

to the voters during the 2019 session, or an initiative petition would have to qualify for the

2020 ballot by July of 2020.

37. If this reform is referred to voters, where would the money come from to pay for this

campaign?

A ballot measure campaign is always paid for with political donations disclosed in ORSTAR.

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38. Who should I contact for more information?

If you are interested in joining the movement, please contact Candalynn Johnson from the

LWVOR office at [email protected]. You can also find more information on our

campaign website: www.redistrictingmatters.org/reform/ or the LWVOR study:

lwvor.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Redistricting2007.pdf. For more resources check

out the additional resources on the LWVOR website: http://lwvor.org/redistricting-in-

oregon/

For more information, please refer to our presentation that is posted on the website:

http://lwvor.org/redistricting-in-oregon/

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Marketing Forums on Social Media

Facebook

a. Create a public event

Use our graphics and create an event on Facebook. Make sure to invite all of your

community partners to have them help with outreach and update people with posts on any

speakers or elected officials who will be attending.

Details:

“Please join the League of Women Voters as we tackle a big issue: gerrymandering. With

the 2020 U.S census coming so is the 2021 redistricting process. Come learn about our

current redistricting process, how it impacts elections here in Oregon, and what reform

could look like. There will be a time for Q & A as well. This is a space to talk about how we

can move forward in advocating for fair representation, competitive districts, and a system

that prevents abuse. Because we believe that voters should choose their representatives,

not representatives choose their voters.

Day, Date, Time

Location

Co-Hosts/Guest Speakers:

Light Snacks and Beverages will be provided

Busy that night? We would still like to hear from you, answer questions and invite you to

attend a different forum or get involved in our campaign. Please contact the League of

Women Voters of Oregon’s Campaign Coordinator Candalynn Johnson at

[email protected] for more information.

See you there!!”

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b. Posts before, during, and after the event

Before: Post updates about catering, guest speakers, and reminders closer to the event on

the event page and the League page.

i. Example with sharing event: “Does Oregon have a Gerrymandering problem? Come

find out how redistricting impacts our elections. #ORRedistrictingMatters”

ii. Example with posting in event: “We will be welcoming ________ as a guest speaker

to the redistricting forum. Join us on day, date, time, location to hear what

________ has to say about redistricting. #ORRedistrictingMatters.”

During: Live-stream the event, especially the guest speakers, on your League’s Facebook

page and take pictures of the event. Encourage people to take videos and pictures and post

on social media with the #ORRedistrictingMatters hashtag.

After: Post the pictures on your Facebook and other internet platforms that your League

uses. Let your followers know where they can go for more information about redistricting

and share this video as well, https://youtu.be/d00WpdtJKWI.

i. Example: “Check out this (video) from our redistricting forum and make sure to

check out other forums happening throughout the state if you missed this one by

going to www.redistrictingmatters.org! #ORRedistrictingMatters”

ii. Example w/ photo from event posted on both the League’s page: “The _______

League is ready to fight gerrymandering by reforming our current redistricting

process. Have questions about what we are doing? Contact at

[email protected]. #ORRedistrictingMatters”

Twitter

c. Posts before, during, and after event:

Before: The trick for Twitter is to use the least amount of words possible to get your

message across. If your League is active on Twitter, make sure to follow up each post with a

#ORRedistrictingMatters. Use the graphics above or other graphics of either the space or of

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the guest speaker to show your followers what can be expected at the event. You can also

find a fun graphic of gerrymandering to use to get voters thinking about the issue.

i. Example w/ picture of speaker: “Welcome our new guest speaker to the redistricting

forum __________! Join us on [day, date, time, location] to hear what ________ has

to say about redistricting. #ORRedistrictingMatters.”

ii. Example w/ picture of catering: “Just partnered with _______ who will be providing

some snacks for our redistricting forum. Join us on [day, date, time, location] to get

some refreshments and learn about how redistricting impacts Oregon elections.

#ORRedistrictingMatters.”

iii. Example post w/ one of the graphics above or a picture of Oregon: “Is there a

gerrymandering problem here in Oregon? Join us tomorrow at [time, location] to get

some refreshments and learn about how redistricting impacts Oregon elections.”

During: Encourage people take videos and pictures and post on Twitter with the

#ORRedistrictingMatters

After: Post the pictures on your Facebook and other internet platforms that your League

uses. Let your followers know where they can go for more information about redistricting

and share this video as well, https://youtu.be/d00WpdtJKWI

i. Example: “Check out this (video) from our redistricting forum and make sure to

check out other forums happening throughout the state if you missed this one!

#ORRedistrictingMatters”

ii. Example w/ photo from event: “The _______ League is ready to fight

gerrymandering by reforming our current redistricting process. Have questions

about what we are doing? Contact at [email protected].

#ORRedistrictingMatters”

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Speakers

If you have connections with a local, state, or federal elected official who you think could draw

a crowd or would be supportive of this issue, invite them as a guest speaker to the forum! This

could be especially impactful if they are a strong Democratic Leader in the community, as the

democratic party and legislators are the most resistant to reform.

Recruitment to Event

Make sure to invite and contact your partners to help fill the room and spread the word about

the forum. Below is a list of suggestions for people your League should remember to reach out

to.

a. Email to League Members

b. Email to League Volunteers

c. Email/call to Elected Officials in your County

d. Email/call to partner organizations

Other Media Outreach

Article for Voter

Example of an article for your printed or emailed voter to League members:

LWVOR Redistricting Education Forum

Please join the League of Women Voters as we tackle a big issue, gerrymandering. With the

2020 U.S census coming so is the 2021 redistricting process; therefore, the League is holding a

forum where voters can learn about what the current problems are in our redistricting process

and what the League proposes as a reform. The forum will be [Day, Date, Time, Location].

The redistricting forum is a space where voters can learn and ask questions about our current

redistricting process, how it impacts elections here in Oregon, and what reform could look like.

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This is a space to talk about how the League is moving forward in advocating for fair

representation, competitive districts, and a system that prevents abuse. The forum will have

[person, describe who the person is], as a guest speaker to talk about why they support reform.

There will also be refreshments provided by [business].

The League supports redistricting reform that would promote putting the process of

redistricting back into the hands of voters to create fair and representative districts. We believe

that voters should be choosing their representatives, not representatives choosing their voters.

This reform would require an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to create an independent

redistricting commission with strict criteria for drawing district boundaries. This is what the

LWVOR and LWVUS redistricting position calls for and what we are advocating for.

For more questions about the forum or what the League is doing for redistricting reform please

contact our campaign coordinator, Candalynn Johnson, at [email protected].

Op-ed in your local newspapers

How to write an op-ed:

This is a list of suggestions on how to create your own op-ed in your local newspaper. Below is

an example of what an op-ed could look like. Please do not copy and paste the example, but

instead use it as a reference. Op-eds need to be personal and show the readers that you are

deeply involved in their community and the issues they care about. For example, if your county

is trying to create a funded fire department, explain in a couple of sentences how that issue of

redistricting connects to elections and the way it effects funding to local governments, public

services, or county representation. Please reach out to Norman or Candalynn with questions

about how to make your op-ed more relatable to your county or if you would like us to proof

read it.

• Whenever possible, link the issue of redistricting and gerrymandering explicitly to something

happening in the news or to an issue that voters in your county really care about. How does

who is elected impact issues for your counties’ voters? Do voters in your county feel their vote

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doesn’t count due to partisanship in their county? Connect voters to the issue by making them

realize that this issue directly relates to their voice being heard on issues the care about.

• Limit the article to 750 words. Shorter is even better

• Be satisfied with making a single point clearly and persuasively. If you cannot explain your

message in a sentence or two, you’re trying to cover too much.

• Put your main point in the first paragraph.

• Put yourself in the place of the busy person looking at your article. At the end of every few

paragraphs, ask out loud: “So what? Who cares?” You need to answer these questions.

• In an op-ed article you need to offer recommendations. How exactly should your county and

state fight against gerrymandering and improve fair representation in Oregon? Why would

reforming our current redistricting system improve fair representation?

• Readers like colorful details better than dry facts. When writing an op-ed article, therefore, look

for great examples that will bring your argument to life and that are relevant to your county’s

voters.

• As they compete with national publications, television, blogs and others, they are playing up

their local roots and coverage. Op-ed editors at these papers increasingly prefer authors who

live locally or have other local connections.

• Use short sentences and paragraphs.

• Avoid jargon.

• Active language is better than passive voice. Refrain from words like (probably, maybe, most

likely, etc.)

• It’s also important to summarize your argument in a strong final paragraph. That’s because

many casual readers scan the headline, skim the opening and then read the final paragraph and

byline.

• Worry about the headline, since that is what will grab readers’ initial interest.

• Offer graphics. Until recently, newspaper op-ed pages rarely accepted graphics or photos to

accompany op-ed article submissions. This tradition is now changing, especially as publications

move online.

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Example Op-Ed:

End Gerrymandering: Support Redistricting Reform

By: [Name]

Published: [Date]

The League of Women Voters of [League Name] is ramping up to tackle a big issue:

gerrymandering. With the 2020 U.S census coming, so is the 2021 redistricting process. Also

after the census, Oregon may receive a sixth congressional district. Currently, the Oregon

legislature is in charge of redrawing district lines. The League is calling for the creation of an

independent redistricting commission with strict criteria for drawing district boundaries, which

requires an amendment to the Oregon Constitution. Reform promotes taking redistricting out

of the hands of partisan politicians and back into the hands of voters to create fair,

representative districts.

Redistricting is the process of redrawing the lines that define political districts. For legislative

and congressional districts, this typically occurs every ten years after the federal census is

completed. Redistricting aims to accurately reflect the changes in numbers of voters and their

interests. This has a huge impact on elections because it can change the level of control parties

have over the legislature and congress.

Gerrymandering is when elected or appointed redistricting officials reconfigure districts to favor

a political party, incumbent, or candidate. Often the purpose of gerrymandering is also to

create uncompetitive races or “safe districts” where districts are drawn to give one party or

candidate a clear winning advantage. Gerrymandering means your vote doesn’t matter.

Oregon is among many states where partisan elected officials may be tempted to distort the

districts they represent for their personal or partisan advantage. When legislators have control

of where the lines get drawn, voters are less able to hold their representatives accountable.

Redistricting reform aims to limit gerrymandering by taking redistricting out of the hands of

partisan officials.

12/27/2018 Page | 22 Redistricting Toolkit

Although opponents of reform might say that Oregon does not have a gerrymandering

problem, a 2012 report by the City Club of Portland shows the current system has many

problems. Prior to the Oregon legislature’s success in 2011, 1981 was the last time the

legislature successfully passed a redistricting plan, but, following a lawsuit, the lines were later

modified by the Secretary of State. Before 2011, the last time the Oregon legislature passed a

redistricting plan that became the final adopted plan was 1911.

The reasons for this dysfunction, in some cases, our legislators simply couldn’t agree, meaning

it fell to the partisan Secretary of State to draw the maps. In other cases, lawmakers agreed,

but the plan was vetoed by the governor. Other times, legal challenges meant the final decision

came to the Oregon Supreme Court. This is why the League supports reform – to close

loopholes, create clear redistricting requirements, make the process less susceptible to

gerrymandering by removing people who have a conflict of interest, and amend the

constitution to create a multipartisan independent redistricting commission.

Learn how the League is moving forward in advocating for fair representation, competitive

districts, and a system that prevents abuse by visiting our website at

http://lwvor.org/redistricting-in-oregon/ for more resources and our campaign website at

http://www.redistrictingmatters.org/.

Support reform here in Oregon, because voters should be choosing their representatives, not

representatives choosing their voters.

[Name] is the [position in the League] and has lived in the [county] community for [years].

12/27/2018 Page | 23 Redistricting Toolkit

Press Release for local media

Keep your press release within 300-800 words.

Title and Subtitle: (60 characters)

Dateline and lead paragraph: (25-30 words) who, what, why, when, where, and how of event

City, State, (name of service or publisher of the press release), Month, Day, Year – details

Body: (Tell the story of the event two to three paragraphs) Use the first paragraph to elaborate

on the details of the event. Talk about the target audience, any guests who will be featured and

their background, and the benefits of attending. If the venue is historic or ties in with your

event in some way or the date coincides with history or a special anniversary with your

company, mention this. This part of the press release can be a bit more descriptive than

previous sections.

The boilerplate statement: (Look at “who we are on website”) This is where the details about

your company are listed including; the services you provide, and perhaps names the key

executives as well. It can contain your mission and vision for your company. This is the public

persona you wish to project for your company.

Contact information: This is the company name, telephone number, address (if you wish, it is

not necessary in a press release), the company's website address, the name of the key person

to contact about the release, and an email address.

Example Press Release: Can be found in a separate document. Please email

[email protected] for more information.

12/27/2018 Page | 24 Redistricting Toolkit

Example graphics to use:

(Taken from redistrictingmatters.org)

12/27/2018 Page | 25 Redistricting Toolkit

Media Coverage links:

• The following redistricting forums had some sort of video or media attention:

o Salem: Broadcasted on the radio by: KMUZ (kmuz.org/the-forum-11-30-2018-

oregon-faces-redistricting-process/)

o Roseburg: Live Streamed on Facebook, shared on LWVOR FB page

o Bend: Live streamed on Facebook and Video recording by KTVZ

(www.ktvz.com/news/league-of-women-voters-urges-redistricting-

changes/865335735)

(https://www.facebook.com/indivisiblebend/videos/883761701963735/)

(https://www.facebook.com/indivisiblebend/videos/298415844103259/)

o Washington County Public Affairs: Live Streamed on Facebook, shared on LWVOR FB

page

(https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonCountyPublicAffairsForum/videos/2158629

934176776/)

o Newport: Pictures and Article on News Times

(newportnewstimes.com/article/redistricting-reform-in-the-works)

o Wilsonville: Article and TVCTV cable broadcast

(https://pamplinmedia.com/wsp/134-news/414533-315603-wilsonville-

residents-weigh-in-on-redistricting) (https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-

news/415495-317579-are-oregon-political-districts-gerrymandered-) and

(https://youtu.be/NEkS-mhUJ_M)

• The statesman's Journal reached out to us to get an opt ed in comparison to Kevin Mannix’s

plan:

o https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/opinion/2018/11/30/take-partisan-

politics-out-oregon-redistricting-give-voters/2163358002/

12/27/2018 Page | 26 Redistricting Toolkit

o https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/24/oregon-

voters-redistricting-legislative-district-2020-election/2062295002/

Additional Resources

Ballotpedia. "Oregon Constitution." Ballotpedia, ballotpedia.org/Oregon Constitution. Accessed 13

Sept. 2018.

Ballotpedia. "Redistricting in Oregon after the 2010 census." Ballotpedia,

ballotpedia.org/Redistricting_in_Oregon_after_the_2010_census. Accessed 13 Sept. 2018.

Brennan Center for Justice. "50 State Guide to Redistricting." Brennan Center for Justice, 21 June

2018, www.brennancenter.org/analysis/50-state-guide-redistricting. Accessed 9 Oct. 2018.

FairVote. "Redistricting." FairVote, www.fairvote.org/redistricting#research_redistrictingoverview.

Accessed 13 Sept. 2018.

League of Women Voters of Oregon Education Fund. Redistricting in Oregon. 2007, lwvor.org/wp-

content/uploads/2015/12/Redistricting2007.pdf. League of Women Voters of Oregon,

lwvor.org/study-archives/lwvorstudyarchivelibrary/#ems. Accessed 9 Oct. 2018.

Lehman, Chris. "Oregon Redistricting Task Force Wants to Strip Power from Lawmakers." Oregon

Public Broadcasting, 4 Oct. 2017, www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-legislative-redistricting-

dennis-richardson-task-force/. Accessed 9 Oct. 2018.

"Lines That Don't Divide." City Club of Portland, vol. 94, no. 35, 17 Feb. 2012, pp. 1-27,

www.pdxcityclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Lines-That-Dont-Divide.pdf. Accessed 9

Oct. 2018.

Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson. "Redistricting Reform Task Force." Oregon Secretary

of State Dennis Richardson, sos.oregon.gov/Pages/independent-redistricting.aspx. Accessed 13

Sept. 2018.

Redistricting Matters. Redistricting Matters. WordPress, 2018,

http://www.redistrictingmatters.org. Accessed 9 Oct. 2018.

12/27/2018 Page | 27 Redistricting Toolkit

Sonenshein, Raphael J. When the People Draw the Lines. Sponsored by The James Irvine

Foundation, League of Women Voters of California,

https://cavotes.org/sites/default/files/jobs/RedistrictingCommission Report6122013.pdf.

Accessed 9 Oct. 2018.

Vox. "What is racial gerrymandering?" Vox, www.vox.com/cards/gerrymandering-explained/what-

is-racial-gerrymandering. Accessed 13 Sept. 2018.