HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm. 019 - 2021-10-13 (testimony) Common Cause Hawaii: October 14, 2021 Agenda of the 2021 Hawaii County Redistricting CommissionCOMMUNICATION 019
P.O. Box 2240
Hoiiolulu, Hawaii 96804
X` Common Cause
Hawaii
Holding Power Accountable
October 13, 2021
808.275.6275
Redistricting Commission (Via Email Only)
Office of the County Clerk
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1402
Hilo, HI 96720
RE: October 14, 2021, Agenda of the 2021 Hawaii County Redistricting Commission
Dear 2021 Hawaii County Redistricting Commission:
Common Cause Hawaii is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to
upholding the core values of American democracy and ensuring a fair and transparent
reapportionment and redistricting process.
Common Cause Hawaii offers a sincere mahalo to this Commission for its work to count
incarcerated people according to their home addresses as of April 1, 2020, the official Census
Date, for the purposes of drawing council district lines. We ask the Commission to consider
including this issue in your final report with a prompt for the Council to effect a charter
amendment ensuring the fair and equitable count of incarcerated persons at their home
addresses in the future rounds of Hawaii County redistricting efforts.
Common Cause Hawaii also wants to be sure that any proposed map will not dilute the voting
strength of the Native Hawaiian community. To this end, attached please find a map showing
the distribution of the Native Hawaiian population in Hawaii County based on the American
Community Survey (ACS). The U.S. Census, unfortunately, does not disaggregate the data to
this level and consequently ACS data were used.
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 provides for drawing of majority minority districts to
ensure that minority populations have a fair chance of electing candidates of their choice
provided that certain criteria for drawing such majority minority districts may be met:
• The minority group is sufficiently large and geographically concentrated to make up a
majority in a district.
• The minority group is politically cohesive. This means that the individuals that make up
the group vote in similar patterns, e.g., they usually vote for the same candidates.
• The white majority usually votes together to defeat the minority -preferred candidates.
• Given the "totality of circumstances" listed above, the minority group has less
opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the electoral process
and to elect representatives of its choice.
Common Cause Hawaii wants to ensure that the 2021 Hawaii County Redistricting
Commission proposes maps that do not dilute the minority vote but instead are equitable and
inclusive maps that ensure that voters of color have an opportunity to elect candidates of their
choice.
Common Cause Hawaii noticed that public hearings are currently being held around the
county without proposed maps. We seek clarification that another round of public hearings will
be held when proposed maps are decided by this Commission.
If you have any questions or concerns, I am available to discuss further at 808-275-6275 or
sma@commoncause.org.
Very respectfully yours,
San Ala
Sandy Ma
Executive Director
Common Cause Hawaii
Attachment
Distribution of Native Hawaiian
Population in Hawaii County (2019)
...
Kailua
0 5 10 20 Miles
I I I I I I I I
�5-10%
10 - 15%
15 - 30%
30 - 65%
Sources: (State of Hawai'i Office of Planning and Sustainable Development: "Census Tracts - 2015"; U.S. Census
Bureau: ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles, "ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates")