Thursday Network's #UNHackTheVote2017
The Goal
Inspire young professionals to protect the voting rights of racial minorities. This Hackathon will push YPs to learn about redistricting and gerrymandering and propose data and technology-driven solutions that increase public awareness.
The Challenge
Develop an informative way for citizens to learn about redistricting and gerrymandering practices using maps, data, and successful, unsuccessful, and ongoing initiatives. Propose solutions, policies, and movements that will prevent marginalization of our voting rights.
The agenda
Thu, July 20th: 6:30-8:30 pm
July GBM Hackathon Kickoff
Learn all about redistricting, gerrymandering, and policy
Fri, July 21st: 6:30-10 pm
Mix and Mingle Social
Form your team meeting leaders in the community, and pitch your ideas while networking with TN
Sat, July 22nd: 8am-6:30 pm
Hackathon: Un-hack the Vote
Full day to form your groups and start working on ideas, solutions, and proposals to pitch to the judges.
The Background
Redistricting is the process of redrawing district boundaries and generally, occurs when a state has more congressional representatives than districts. State representatives have 2 to 4- year terms, and the number of representatives per state increases with the increase of a state's population. Redistricting, however, only occurs every ten years alongside the national census. The next national census is in 2020.
Historically, the majority political party in the state legislature has used gerrymandering to influence the next ten years of electoral votes. Districts redrawn on the state level then affect which federal party representatives come into power.
Gerrymandering explained
The diagram below illustrates three ways of redistricting to control the outcome.
Why should you care?
Every ten years, following the national census, city council, the state legislature and congressional district boundaries must be redrawn to reflect the nation’s shifting population. The way district boundaries are drawn after the national census affects the composure of the state and federal legislatures for multiple election cycles. It is critically important that districts are drawn to maximize fair community representation.
Do you know who draws the lines of your district and how this will affect your next election, the school system our children will belong to, or the interests of the community you live in? Do you know what options you have under the current rules – and how to change them?
Redistricting mostly takes place behind closed doors. Legislators and political consultants decide which streets or neighborhoods are in or out, specialists make the maps, and the public has little opportunity to weigh in. This opacity allows for districts to be drawn for political gain. We believe that this should change – that this process should be more transparent. We believe that by leveraging technology, citizens can be more involved.
Contact us
For more information or to pre-register for this event, please visit us online:
https://thursdaynetwork.github.io/un-hack_thevote_2017
To find out about sponsoring this event or making a donation, please reach out to Amy Lee Walton, the Personal and Professional Development Chair of Thursday Network and Program Manager of this event at ppd@thursdaynetwork.org.
Location
Dates
to 22nd July 2017 - 06:30 PM