Initiative Petition 34

The Oregon legislature has once again demonstrated the need for an independent citizens’ redistricting commission to draw congressional and legislative district lines. The promise of fair representation should not be a pawn in a partisan political game. We need to reform this process to create a fair system so that Oregon voters are choosing their politicians, instead of politicians choosing their voters.

Oregon has an incredible opportunity to reform our redistricting process and redraw our district lines. It’s imperative to the health of our democracy that we do this in the most fair and transparent manner possible.

We need an independent redistricting commission to do this job.

The outcome of this year’s redistricting process will impact fair representation and fair elections for the next decade so it must be as non-political as possible.

IP 34 would be on the November 2022 ballot, and would require redistricting before the 2024 election cycle.

Changes who draws the lines and how

• Creates an independent multi-partisan commission of 12 Oregonians to take public testimony and draw legislative and congressional voting maps according to strict criteria.
• The commission will be made up of four Democrats, four Republicans and four others who are third-party members or non-affiliated.
• Allows every-day Oregonians who meet  certain criterion – such as being registered to vote in Oregon and not being an elected or appointed official or lobbyist – to apply to serve on the 12-member commission.
• Commission would be made up of Oregonians who represent the gender, racial, ethnic, geographic and other diversity of our state.
• Requires the commission to use transparent and objective criteria to draw lines.
• Adds criteria to promote competitive districts, protection against splitting communities, and fair representation.

Increase transparency and public participation

• Creates a stronger system for checks & balances of the multi-partisan commission.
• Requires a multi-partisan and majority vote of commissioners before maps can be adopted.
• Requires at least 10 public hearings to be held across the state, allowing the public to attend meetings, provide input and comments on the mapping process.
• Prevents partisan legislators, special interest lobbyists, and political strategists and staff from influencing the process.

Create positive impact for all Oregonians

• Ensures that every Oregonian’s voice counts in choosing our elected representatives.
• Gives Oregonians balanced leadership, focused on equal representation by their elected officials.
• Provides a greater opportunity for under-represented communities like low-income Oregonians, persons of color, rural Oregonians and seniors to have a voice in their representation;
• Creates better geographic, economic, social, community and political diversity in drawing the district maps for our state legislators and congressional representatives;
• Elect lawmakers who are more representative of their districts.
• Puts everyday Oregonians, not politicians, in charge of drawing voting districts.