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Redistricting
The Impact of Redistricting in YOUR Community: A Guide to Redistricting
By the year 2011, America’s demographics will have greatly changed and we will have become a much more diverse nation. You’ve probably noticed these changes taking place in your neighborhoods and schools. African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders make up at least one-half of the residents in one out of every ten of the nation’ counties.
The process called “redistricting” will determine how our local school board, city council, state legislative and congressional districts are drawn.
- How can our communities participate?
- How can we ensure that our interests are being heard and represented by our elected officials?
- How can we ensure that the voting strength of our communities is not weakened?
- What are the important factors to consider in redistricting?
This handbook will answer these questions by laying out the importance of getting involved with the redistricting process, and providing resources and contact information.
Redistricting Factsheets
- Redistricting: Why It’s Important to You–
a fachsheet that provides basic information about what redistricting is, why communities engage in it and what’s at stake if communities do not get involved. - Redistricting: How You Can Participate in the Redistricting Process–
a factsheet that provides information about who can participate in the redistricting process and how one can get involved. - Redistricting: Communities Of Interest And Creating A Community Profile –
a factsheet that provides information on communities of interest and how to create a community profile that best describes your community of interest.
Voting Rights Act
Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act
- Bilingual Voting Assistance: How to Use the Voting Rights Act Handbook
Provides community leaders and other interested parties with critical information concerning the implementation of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. This handbook reflects the newly covered jurisdictions and languages under Census 2000.
Federal Government Information
- Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act: Fact Sheet
Provides a short overview of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and identifies the jurisdictions that must provide language assistance. - Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act Brochure
Official brochure from the U.S. Department of Justice on Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which mandates that juridictions with heavy limited English proficient populations must provide written and oral language assistance during the voting process. - Federal Register Notice of Determination Under Section 203
Official publication defining the covered jurisdictions under Section 203 of the Voting Right Act based on Census 2000 numbers.
Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act
- AAJC Testimony
- June 13, 2006 Official Statement of Karen K. Narasaki
President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center
Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate
Hearing on S. 2703,“Continuing Need for Section 203's Provisions for Limited English Proficient Voters” - May 4, 2006 Official Oral Testimony of Karen K. Narasaki
President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center
Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 9,"A Bill to Reauthorize and Amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965: Part II" - May 4, 2006 Official Statement of Karen K. Narasaki
President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center
Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 9,"A Bill to Reauthorize and Amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965: Part II"
- June 13, 2006 Official Statement of Karen K. Narasaki
- The VRA and Asian Americans
- The Voting Rights Act and Asian Americans Information Kit
In the face of a sunset date of 2007 for certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act (including Section 203 language assistance provisions), AAJC has been engaged in working towards the reauthorization of the VRA. - AAJC has developed an information kit to educate community members on the importance of the VRA to political empowerment of Asian American voters and how its provisions helps to prevent discrimination against Asian Americans during the voting process. Included in the information kit are the following materials:
- History of the Voting Rights Act & Asian Americans;
- Real-Life Stories of Asian Americans & the VRA;
- What Everyone Should Know about the VRA;
- What You Can Do to Help (includes sample letter to the editor, ways to share your story) (courtesy of LCCR & LCCREF – www.renewthevra.org)
- Protect Voting Rights: Renew the Voting Rights Act
2005 marks 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and the beginning of debate (anticipated for 109th Congress) concerning the renewal of temporary revisions that expire in 2007. The gains of the last 40 years will be severely compromised if these provisions of the VRA are not protected.
- The Voting Rights Act and Asian Americans Information Kit
Election Reform and Other Related Issues
- FACTSHEET: INDIANA VOTER PHOTO ID CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
Gives an overview of AAJC’s amicus brief in the Indiana Voter ID case. - FACTSHEET: THE THREAT OF VOTER PHOTO ID REQUIREMENTS
Provides an overview of why voter IDs are harmful and why arguments in support of voter IDs do not hold up. - HAVA 2008 Check-In: Is HAVA Working For or Against You?
This handbook provides background information, concerns and issues with implementation, and some recommendations for a number of the most relevant provisions. Community leaders and advocates can assess their state’s approach to these particular topics and work with their election officials, as necessary, to augment upon what procedures are in place to improve the election process for Asian American and all American voters.
Election-related Information
Election 2010
- Know Your Rights: Election 2010 Flyer – a flyer that provides voters with information on what their rights are when voting as well as the Election Protection Hotline number
- Know Your Rights: Election 2010 Half-Flyer – a smaller flyer that provides voters with basic information on their rights at the polls as well as the Election Protection Hotline number
- Factsheet: My Right to the Assistance of my Choice While Voting - Explains a voter’s right to have an assistor of choice while voting at the polling place and in the voting booth under federal law and what one can do if that right is being violated.
- Factsheet: Voter challenges at the Polls - Gives a brief overview of voter challenges at the polls against Asian Americans and who to notify if such voter challenges occur.
- AAJC Testimony
- February 26, 2008 Official Statement of Terry M. Ao
Director of Census & Voting Programs, Asian American Justice Center
Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Committee on the Judiciary United States House of Representatives
Oversight Hearing on Voter Suppression - September 24, 2008 Official Oral Testimony of Karen K. Narasaki
President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center
Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Committee on the Judiciary and the Subcommittee on Elections Committee of the House Administration
United States House of Representatives
- February 26, 2008 Official Statement of Terry M. Ao
Joint Oversight Hearing On Federal, State, and Local Efforts to Prepare for the General 2008 Election
- September 24, 2008 Official Statement of Karen K. Narasaki
President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center
Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Committee on the Judiciary and the Subcommittee on Elections Committee of the House Administration
United States House of Representatives
Joint Oversight Hearing On Federal, State, and Local Efforts to Prepare for the General 2008 Election
- FACTSHEET: My Right To The Assistance Of My Choice While Votin
Explains a voter’s right to have an assistor of choice while voting at the polling place and in the voting booth under federal law and what one can do if that right is being violated. - FACTSHEET: Voter Challenges At The Polls
Gives a brief overview of voter challenges at the polls against Asian Americans and who to notify if such voter challenges occur.
Elections 2006
- 2006 Election Day Fact Sheet
Gives a brief Election Day overview of suggestions, advice, and your voting rights.
Elections 2004
- Sound Barriers: Asian Americans and Language Access in Election 2004
The report details the barriers faced by Asian Americans who voted during last year’s elections and underscores the importance of providing access to the ballot for Asian Americans with limited English proficiency. - NAPALC Report on Election 2004
Preliminary reports show that Asian American voters turned out in unprecedented numbers across the country, but many faced obstacles at the polls. During Election 2004, the Asian American Justice Center worked on a variety of projects to ensure full participation of Asian American voters.- The Votes of Asian Pacific Americans Matter: 2004 Election
This U.S. map highlights the states in which Asian Americans can make a difference in the federal electoral process.
- The Votes of Asian Pacific Americans Matter: 2004 Election
Asian America Participates
Voting in the Asian Pacific American Community: Asserting Our Rights, Asserting Our Voice This thorough, indispensable handbook is a practical, hands-on guide for individuals, community leaders, and organizations to improve the current level of political and civic engagement among Asian American communities and increase Asian American access in the voting process. It discusses four major aspects of Asian American voting rights necessary to increase the ability of Asian American communities in becoming politically and civically engaged—the Census, redistricting, voting access and policy, and community participation. This handbook also provides an overview of voting laws and policies, including important policies like Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act (bilingual assistance for elections) and the Help American Vote Act, and their implications for the Asian American community, as well as sample forms and plans that can be used for exit polling, voter registration, and poll monitoring.
Project VOTE! A Report on Lessons Learned About Increasing Civic Engagement in Southeast Asian Communities
The report released by the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC), the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) highlights lessons learned from the Voting Orientation Training and Empowerment Project (Project VOTE), a study of two Southeast Asian American communities and their voting behaviors. Also included in the report are recommendations and strategies for future work on increasing civic participation and political empowerment with Southeast Asian Americans.
PROJECT VOTE Media Kit
Elected officials need to recognize Southeast Asian American voices on important issues such as education, the economy, and immigration. To that end we have developed a media kit to provide information to educate community members on important issues and help raise visibility for Southeast Asian American voters. Included in the kit are:
- An Op-Ed/Editorial to encourage community members to vote;
- Ten Things You May Not Know About the Southeast Asian American Voter;
- A Voter Guide on important issues to the Southeast Asian American community; and
- Media Contact List.
We hope that these resources will help you in your efforts to inform community members of the importance of voting and increase attention to Southeast Asian Americans in this election.
ENSURING ASIAN AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTICIPATION Information Kit
With weeks to go before the November 2nd election, the Asian American Justice Center has engaged in three voting rights projects to help ensure Asian American political participation: Election Protection 2004, Access to Democracy and Project VOTE.
AAJC has developed an information kit to educate community members on our voting rights projects and to provide information for people who are interested in volunteering to help this effort. Included in the information kit are the following materials:
- Volunteer Announcement for Election Protection 2004;
- Access to Democracy Backgrounder;
- Project VOTE Backgrounder;
- NAPALC Voting Right Project Contact List; and
- Media Contact List.
Other Materials
- Campaign Finance Reform & Legal Permanent Residents
This fact sheet addresses critical First Amendment issues of legal permanent residents and campaign contribution
