I. The Problem 

Right now, instead of working to improve the economy, address the housing crisis, or focus on the many pressing issues facing Americans, our government is arguing over how to ignore the will of voters in 2026 and beyond — an election still a year away.

I’m talking about partisan redistricting, also known as gerrymandering, which has led to some of the most ruthless, self-serving, and undemocratic politics in our country’s history.

This petition offers a national solution to end gerrymandering once and for all before the problem gets even worse.

In Texas and Missouri, Republican lawmakers are close to redrawing district lines five years early, rather than waiting until 2030 like the rest of the country. If successful, they could carve out as many as six additional congressional seats — five in Texas, one in Missouri — in the 2026 midterm elections.

This power grab has triggered predictable responses from other states. In California, the governor has threatened to reshape districts in ways that favor Democrats. Other Democratic governors have hinted they may follow suit.

But there’s a silver lining to this democratic crisis: Americans are fed up. More and more voters want elections determined by the people — not politicians or political parties.

Unfortunately, states can no longer be trusted to act fairly on their own — and the Texas GOP’s mid-decade redistricting scheme is proof of that.

That’s why we need federal bipartisan legislation. Here’s a plan that both sides of the aisle can get behind: 

II. Our Plan to End Gerrymandering

1) Ban Mid-Decade Redistricting:

States are supposed to redraw maps once every ten years after the Census — and for good reason. Allowing redistricting at any time destroys stability and fairness in congressional representation. Congress must mandate that all states redraw maps only once per decade.

2) Require States to Prevent Gerrymandering by Adopting One of Two Redistricting Systems:

     a) Independent Commissions: 

Thirteen states already use independent commissions, which empower a group of cross-partisan voters to determine districts. I have direct experience implementing this kind of reform: 

In 2016, I led the successful effort to establish Michigan’s independent commission, which remains in place today. The result? The people of Michigan now have far more competitive districts and a much more responsive state government.

Independent commissions are a straightforward and relatively easy-to-implement solution that mitigates some of the worst aspects of gerrymandering.

However, these commissions can still leave voters unrepresented. For example, in California, the percentage of Republican voters in the state is higher than the percentage of GOP house seats. This seemingly inescapable disparity is why many reformers prefer the following option...

     b) Proportional Representation: 

Several developed democracies use proportional representation in large part because it makes partisan redistricting nearly impossible.

Instead of electing one representative per district, voters elect multiple representatives from larger, multi-member districts. Seats are awarded based on the percentage of the vote each party receives.

For example, New York currently has 26 single-member congressional districts. Under proportional representation, the state could be divided into five large districts, each electing five or six representatives. If a district votes 60% Democrat and 40% Republican, it would send 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans to Congress.

This system eliminates the winner-take-all structure that allows gerrymandering to thrive and gives voters of all backgrounds meaningful representation.

You can learn more about proportional representation here. 

Both options have benefits and drawbacks. Independent commissions are simple, but do not put an end to gerrymandering. While proportional representation systems have proven to be more effective, but require more radical change that people may not be prepared for. The point is, either option is better than the systems that Texas, Illinois, and Missouri, and other states have. 

As someone who’s worked closely on this issue, I know Republican, Democratic, and independent voters are all tired of hearing about gerrymandering. It's time to mandate a federal solution and tone down the divisiveness that has taken over our politics.

Sign the petition if you agree.

— Katie Fahey
 Executive Director, The People