[LWVNM Action] Statement on House Judiciary killing HJR1

[Richard Mason]

*Please reach out and thank Rep. Andea Romero (D-SF) for staying true to
what she answered in League surveys on this issue and casting the only no
vote to table. I can't say that for others.*


*Dick Mason*


*Bill to reform N.M.’s approach to drawing voting boundaries killed by the
Legislature*



A bill to put the question of creation of an Independent Redistricting
Commission in New Mexico on the 2024 ballot died Monday in the New Mexico
House Judiciary Committee on a 10-1 vote. Multiple lawmakers voiced their
viewpoint that the legislature should retain authority to draw its own
district lines. Advocates for the bill offered extensive testimony, arguing
for the bill’s passage and presenting survey data that 77% of likely N.M.
voters want an independent redistricting commission and that the
Legislature should let voters decide.



Representatives Natalie Figueroa (D-ABQ) and Jason Harper (R-Rio Rancho)
presented a compelling case for an independent redistricting commission.
They were joined in their presentation by Robert Rhatigan, a member of the
2021 advisory Citizen Redistricting Committee and Heather Balas, Vice
President of the Election Reformers Network.



“We are very disappointed,” said Dick Mason of Fair Districts for New
Mexico, “What we saw yesterday in the House Judiciary Committee was
bipartisanship, but NOT the kind advocates of democracy seek. Both the
Republicans and Democrats members of the committee came together to protect
their own power.; Despite legitimate concerns about partisan
gerrymandering, redistricting in New Mexico has been primarily about
incumbency protection for legislators of both major parties.”



Despite the committee’s vote to oppose the bill, there was no opposition
from the public. Instead, the following organizations offered testimony in
support of HJR1: Adelante Progressive Caucus ; Retake our Democracy;
American Association of University Women; Election Reformers Network; Fair
Districts New Mexico; League of Women Voters of New Mexico; Lutheran
Advocacy Ministries; New Mexico Council of Churches; National Organization
for Women; New Mexico First Redistricting Task Force; Progressive Democrats
of America – Central New Mexico and Vecinos United



Other organizations contacted Committee members in advance of the hearing
to support HJR1



“Data from multiple other states with Independent Redistricting Commissions
objectively demonstrate that, when voting boundaries are drawn by these
independent groups, the maps are less biased and more reflective of
communities, than when drawn by legislatures,” said Heather Balas of the
national research organization Election Reformers Network. “Given the
rising degree of polarization and distrust by voters in the election
system, New Mexico and other states must take action to advance proven
reforms to make our system more fair.”



A repeating concern by advocates across the country is the inherent
conflict of interest for legislators to draw their own district lines and
Congressional boundaries that are often seen to advance the majority
parties and/or protect incumbents. These concerns were repeated voiced by
New Mexico advocates.



Kathleen Burke of Fair Districts for New Mexico, a coalition of over 40
organizations that supported HJR1, said Fair Districts will work with bill
sponsors and advocates to reintroduce the bill in the 2024 session.
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