Washington state has enacted legislation to end prison gerrymandering. It is among the growing list of states that count incarcerated people at home for redistricting purposes.
Washington - Campaign Archive
The U.S. Census Bureau counts incarcerated people where they are confined not where they are from. Using these counts to draw state and county legislative districts enhances the weight of a vote cast by people who live near prisons at the expense of everyone else in the state or county.
Legislation
- SB 5287, sponsored by Senators Darneille and Hunt, introduced on January 17, 2019. Passed the Senate on March 11, 2019, and the House April 16, 2019. Because the bill was amended in the House, it then went back to the Senate for concurrence, which it got on April 23,2019. The Governor signed the bill into law on May 21, 2019.
Organizations in Washington State
It’s impossible to include everyone who is working toward fair districting in Washington, but if you are looking to get involved, these are some of the people and organizations you might want to contact:
More information
- Effects of prison-based gerrymandering in Washington at the state and local levels of government: 50 State Guide - Washington.
Recommended Reading:
About the Prison Policy Initiative
Learn more about the organization behind the Prison Gerrymandering Project.
The Racial Geography of Mass Incarceration
The transfer of Black and Latino incarcerated people to communities very different than their own is a nationwide problem.
How to get elected without being a candidate first.
Iowa Public Radio explores how Anamosa Iowa ended prison gerrymandering.
