To a state legislator: support an independent redistricting commission

Personalize. Reference your specific district if possible. State legislators read constituent mail more carefully than most federal offices — your name and address matter.

Dear Representative [Last Name],

I’m writing as a resident of [city/town] in your district. I’d like to ask you to support legislation establishing an independent redistricting commission for [state]‘s congressional and state legislative maps ahead of the next census cycle.

In the last cycle, [reference specific gerrymandering concern in your state — e.g., “the western part of the state was split across three districts in a way that has no demographic justification”]. The result is districts that don’t represent communities, and elections that don’t function as meaningful contests.

An independent commission, drawing maps under transparent criteria with public input, is not a partisan reform. States that have adopted them — [reference one or two: California, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado] — have produced more competitive districts and higher levels of public confidence in the process, regardless of which party benefited in any given cycle.

Specifically, I’m asking you to:

1. Co-sponsor or vote for legislation establishing an independent commission.
2. Insist on transparent criteria and public input in any commission’s operating rules.
3. Resist any framing that makes this a partisan reform. It isn’t, and treating it that way poisons the well for future cycles.

I’d appreciate knowing where you stand on this question and what you plan to do in the coming session.

Thank you for representing our district.

Sincerely,

[Your name] [Your full address — your representative’s office may verify constituency]