Episode 32767: Open Democracy Minute for December 6, 2021: Constituents calling State Reps on Gerrymandered maps; NH cities working on ward lines

Open Democracy Minute

You're listening to the Open Democracy Minute, keeping Granite State government by and for the people. Holidays or no, there is one month left before the full NH House votes on the gerrymandered Congressional maps, and NH House maps that kept 53 NH towns from getting their own Constitutionally-guaranteed districts. Activist groups around the state have commenced calling state representatives to make sure they attend the January 6th full House session, and asking for their positions on the maps. An unconfirmed report said the sessions may be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Manchester, rather than the State House. Information on how to contact your state rep can be found at http://gencourt.state.nh.us/ Also in redistricting news, a public hearing on the City of Manchester’s redistricted ward lines will be held Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 pm in the Aldermanic chambers. New Hampshire’s redistricting is based in part on these ward lines, but as just mentioned, the maps are already drawn. Many cities have not finished reallocating their wards, which for some cities means a change in the city charter. Manchester, Nashua and Lebanon are among the first to near completion. Whether these wards change the State’s maps is yet to be seen. As Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we HAVE, it's something we DO.” For the Open Democracy Minute, I'm Brian Beihl.