WHAT IS CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING?
Redistricting redraws political boundaries to reflect population changes. Redistricting typically happens once every 10 years after the U.S. census. Every congressional district in the U.S. is designed to have roughly the same population to ensure equal representation. After the 2020 Census, the average population per congressional district is about 760,000 people. Florida last redistricted in 2022, resulting in 20 Republicans and 8 Democrats in Congress.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Florida is joining a broader Republican strategy led by President Trump to pursue mid-decade redistricting, with Governor DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez publicly backing mid-decade redistricting-seven years early. Senate President Ben Albritton has not committed to supporting the plan, casting doubt on whether the upper chamber will back the effort or let it stall.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT NEXT?
On August 7, State House Speaker Daniel Perez said that he’s creating a select committee to explore drawing up new districts seven years ahead of the normal schedule. Committee members are expected to be announced with other committee assignments in September. The committee is set to begin hearings this fall

PUSHING TO DRAW DISTRICT LINES IN THE MIDDLE OF A DECADE IS EXPENSIVE, UNNECESSARY, AND ANTI-DEMOCRATIC. HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT:

1. Talk to neighbors, friends and relatives to let them know what is happening. You are a trusted source of information.
2. Take to social media. Record a short video explaining why you oppose any effort to draw new district lines in Florida’s congressional maps mid-decade.
3. Write and submit a letter to the editor.
4. Send a letter to your state lawmakers.
5. Gather others to write letters or postcards to your state lawmakers.
6. Contact Senate President, Ben Albritton, and urge him to refrain from supporting this undemocratic redistricting effort.
7. Call your state electeds and tell them you are a constituent, and you expect them to reject new maps.
8. Request a meeting with your state Senator or Representative to discuss the issue, ask them where they stand on the issue and ask them to reject new maps.

Senator Erin Grall

3209 Virginian Avenue, Suite A149, Ft. Pierce, FL 34981, (772) 595-1398

Representative Robert Brackett

Suite B2-203, 1800 27th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960, (772) 365-9230

Senator Ben Albritton
150 North Central Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830, (863) 534-0073