Written by Einoth Laizer MTSO Student
As people of faith who care about hunger, we need public servants not politicians. Gerrymandering, which involves manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts for political advantage, can have a significant impact on the democratic process and representation.
We value fairness and right relationship in our world. Gerrymandering undermines these values by allowing politicians to draw district lines in a way that disproportionately favors one political party and their friends over districts that represent the community. This leads to policies that do not address the needs of all communities, including those struggling with hunger.
Simply put, gerrymandering results in the dilution of the political power of marginalized and vulnerable communities - including those who hunger. When ourvoices are weakened through unfair districting, it becomes harder to advocate for policies that address poverty, food insecurity, and other community issues.
As people of faith, we need to have faith democratic institutions, and gerrymandering destroys that faith.
In my experience African nations, especially my country of Tanzania, use representation systems. Political parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive in the general election. This helps ensure that diverse voices are represented in legislative bodies. The Tanzania Constitutions include safeguards to prevent political manipulation. These safeguards include guidelines for the independent delineation of electoral boundaries and the establishment of electoral commissions to oversee the process of elections. Tanzania electoral systems aim to achieve a balance that reflects the country's diversity. This involves mechanisms to prevent the concentration of power in a specific region or ethnic group, is because we have about 120-130 ethnic groups like Bantu, Cushite, Nilo-Hamite and San. My country prioritizes community engagement and public participation in the electoral process, this includes consultation with citizens, civil society organizations, and various stakeholders in decisions related to electoral boundaries. Those with power in Tanzania still work to manipulate boundaries to their benefit. The more power the people have, the more limited the power of a corrupt few can be.
GET INVOLVED!
The upcoming ballot campaign in Ohio is a very important opportunity for the citizens to improve our democracy so that we can work on other important issues - like hunger. Ohioans passionate about shaping their community's future are encouraged to join the movement and make their voices heard.
To get involved in this transformative effort, you can:
Read about the ballot campaign
Sign a Petition to get the Citizens Not Politicians amendment on the ballot
Take a petition to your morning coffee hour
Share information in the bulletin or during group discussion about the importance of ending gerrymandering in Ohio!