FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 19, 2021
Saratoga, NY – Ahead of New York’s Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) redrawing state legislative and congressional district lines, today Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released an open letter to North Country voters encouraging them to participate in virtual hearings on redistricting this August. The letter reads in part:
“Exercising your voice is a civic duty and a hallmark of our democratic process. Every voice matters—and this is an opportunity to be heard during a crucial process that will impact the representation of our communities, and our state, for the next decade.That is why I strongly encourage voters in New York’s 21st Congressional District to participate in a virtual hearing and have their voices heard.”
Read the full letter here and below:
An Open Letter to North Country Voters: Make Your Voices Heard to Ensure Fair Lines of Representation and Stop Albany’s Partisan Power Grab!
As New York’s Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) prepares to draw state legislative and congressional district lines, the IRC has announced that it will host virtual public listening sessions across our state.
Exercising your voice is a civic duty and a hallmark of our democratic process. Every voice matters—and this is an opportunity to be heard during a crucial process that will impact the representation of our communities, and our state, for the next decade. That is why I strongly encourage voters in New York’s 21st Congressional District to participate in a virtual hearing and have their voices heard.
NY-21 IRC Virtual Public Hearing Schedule:
Monday, August 2nd: Capital Region (2:00pm)
Thursday, August 5th: North Country and Mohawk Valley (2:00pm)
More information on how to participate is available on the IRC website here: https://www.nyirc.gov/meetings
The critical redistricting process takes place once every decade to account for population changes. Thanks to New York voters, in 2014 we voted to ensure independent redistricting, which was the result of a public referendum in which millions of New Yorkers voted in favor of a Constitutional amendment to enact the IRC with the goal of ensuring fair and balanced district lines and representation.
However, earlier this year, we witnessed Governor Cuomo, the New York Democrat Party, and Albany Assembly and Senate Democrats attempt to undermine New Yorkers by overturning the will of the people who voted for this Constitutional Amendment by seizing power, allowing Democrat-only majorities in the Assembly and Senate to draw lines to benefit their Far-Left political interests.
Political games have no place in our cherished democracy. The only way to ensure a fair and equitable redistricting process is to have transparency and participation within it. This is why I strongly urge NY-21 voters to exercise their civic duty and engage in these public hearings to protect the North Country’s voice.
New Yorkers have the opportunity to shine a light on this process to ensure a transparent and just process to determine the North Country’s representation. Together, we can use our voices to safeguard the integrity of our democracy and the representation of our state for years to come.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21)
