En Español Know Your Rights
Source: Newsday
Subject: Immigration
Type: Media Coverage

Archila: Electoral maps cheat minorities


How much does your vote count?

“As much as anyone else’s,” you might think. But it’s not so simple. The voting power of individuals and communities all hinges on geography.

Every 10 years, America’s political landscape changes. Following the census, levels of government draw new district lines to reflect changing demography. Among other factors, the law says newly drawn districts should reflect population changes while remaining compact and keeping intact “communities of interest” — that is, groups living near one another with commonalities such as racial and ethnic background or economic interests.



Just look at Suffolk County. From 2000 to 2010, census data show that Suffolk’s population increased by roughly 75,000 people. But Suffolk’s population would have declined if not for increased Latino, immigrant and African-American populations. Ideally, new district maps would ensure that these growing communities receive greater political representation. They should keep neighboring groups together in the same district so that, as a bloc, they could elect the legislators they feel would best represent them. The legislative task force’s maps, however, propose parceling them up into disparate, majority-white districts.

The most egregious example is the Town of Islip, where the proposed State Senate map would again carve Central Islip and Brentwood up into different districts, diluting the power of these overwhelmingly African-American and Latino communities.


Ultimately, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo should veto the legislature’s maps and ensure that new districts respect communities of interest. A better redistricting process, as the governor has insisted, would be done by an independent commission that isn’t beholden to either party and instead seeks to create fair and competitive districts.




If we don’t raise our voices now, the consequences could be dire. Whatever maps are approved will be in place for another decade. That’s a long time for Long Island’s communities of color to remain undercounted and underrepresented.

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