Speak up for People Power (Voting Rights and Fair Districts). Call your legislators!

[Orlandodem]

Call the legislators mentioned at the end of this article and demand that they produce new maps for electoral districts ASAP!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorials/fl-sgcol-oped0626-20110626,0,416191.column

Politically left, right or center: Every Florida voter needs to become "a card-carrying member" of the American Civil Liberties Union and also support Fair Districts Florida. Both nonpartisan groups are defending your voting rights and the power of your vote. It's high time you did, too.

If nothing else, we expect fair elections that honestly represent our individual and collective will, whether our candidate or position wins or not. That's ingrained in us as Americans. But apparently, basic civics is a stretch for the-powers-that-be in Tallahassee. They are doing everything they can to stay in power by disempowering you. So, give them a lesson in "people power" by standing up for your rights. Try it. You'll like it.

1. Help the ACLU of Florida overturn (what critics call) a voter suppression law: The governor and members of the Legislature are committed to ending regulations that inhibit business. But they just enacted a law (HB 1355) that makes it more difficult and inconvenient to vote, register to vote and register others to vote. Early voting has been reduced from 14 days to eight. Sunday voting before elections has been eliminated. Voters won't be able to change their address from one county to another on Election Day and vote by regular, instead of a provisional, ballot. New rules and fines would limit the ability (and inclination) of third-party groups to conduct independent efforts to register new voters.

2. Help Fair Districts Florida end gerrymandering: In November 2010, Florida voters approved constitutional Amendments 5 and 6 by 63 percent. For the first time in state history, they established nonpartisan standards for drawing state legislative and congressional districts. If you voted for the amendments, once they passed, you probably thought your job was over: It would be clear sailing, and gerrymandering was dead. Wrong! Two Florida members of Congress are still suing to have Amendment 6 overturned. And the Legislature is dragging its feet on redistricting.

Twenty-six public hearings are now under way statewide, supposedly so Floridians can become better informed and express their views on redistricting. But you decide if it seems like a sham: No proposed maps will be presented to the public for review. Legislators present have been instructed not to speak, ask questions or answer them. The current timeline for establishing final district boundaries makes it unlikely they will be approved by the close of the qualifying period, creating a chaos that will benefit incumbents.

You can do four things to end gerrymandering.

First, call the following state legislators and tell them to produce redistricting maps now, accelerate the timeline for approval, and let legislators speak at hearings: Sen. Mike Haridopolos (321-752-3131), Sen. Don Gaetz (850-897-5747), Rep. Dean Cannon (407-623-5740) and Rep. Will Weatherford (813-558-5115).

Second, attend one or more of the public hearings on redistricting being held Aug. 16 and 17 in South Florida and repeat the same message. Go to fairdistrictsnow.org/hearings/ for the list of public hearings.

Third, tell everyone you know around the state to consult the list and attend a hearing.

Fourth, make a financial contribution to Fair Districts Now (fairdistrictsnow.org).

Guaranteed, some of you will turn these issues into partisan politics. I can hear naysayers declaring that Republicans are only doing what Democrats did for years — and excusing them on that immature premise.

Problem is, voter suppression is illegal, no matter which party does it. And gerrymandering is now unconstitutional in Florida. As children, we begrudgingly accept the idea that "two wrongs don't make a right." As adults, we surely understand the truth and wisdom of it. Let's hope most of us have grown up enough to want every Floridian's voting rights protected.