Rep. Joe Pitts Encourages Participation in Statewide Redistricting Contest
Nashville, TN – Members of the Tennessee General Assembly are encouraging middle school, high school and college students to participate in TN Redistricting: Map It Out!, a contest designed to educate residents about the redistricting process.
TN Redistricting: Map It Out! is a nonpartisan, statewide contest sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Tennessee, in cooperation with the First Amendment Center. Contest participants can compete for cash prizes by drawing electoral maps for state House, state Senate and congressional districts while learning more about the complex rules that lawmakers must follow when drafting redistricting plans.
“I sincerely hope that students from my district will participate in Map It Out! contest,” said Rep. Joe Pitts. “The redistricting process should ensure that every person in Tennessee is adequately represented at all levels of government. Input from the public is important, and I’m eager to see the electoral boundaries created by our state’s up-and-coming leaders.”
The contact began on Monday, October 3rd, and will end on Monday, October 24th, at midnight CDT. Anyone can enter, but only Tennessee residents are eligible to win. Educators whose students participate in the contest are eligible to receive a cash stipend.
“TN Redistricting: Map It Out! provides students with a great opportunity to learn more about the redistricting process,” said Margie Parsley, president of the League of Women Voters of Tennessee. “Redistricting is a complicated issue, and this contest aims to make it as easy to understand as possible. I think our state’s students will be challenged to come up with district maps that comply with our nation’s “one man, one vote” law, and they will have fun in the process.”
TN Redistricting: Map It Out! participants will use Dave’s Redistricting software to draw their district maps. Participants may enter a congressional district map or a state House and a state Senate district map, or they may enter maps in both categories. All redistricting plans must comply with the Voting Rights Act and the constitutions of Tennessee and the United States. A complete list of rules and judging criteria can be found at www.tnmapitout.org.
