Fight gerrymandering and #DrawDemocracy in NY

HOLIDAY SALE – GET A PUZZLE FOR JUST $39. THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR DEMOCRACY-LOVING UNCLE!

Donate $49 to the #DrawDemocracy campaign for fair districts and get a Gerrymandering Jigsaw Puzzle!

Visit the campaign website here! (DrawDemocracy.org.)

You vote in elections. Your vote should count. Right? But behind the scenes, corrupt politicians are making it so THEY choose their own voters, instead of YOU choosing your representatives, using a process called GERRYMANDERING.

Gerrymandering happens when politicians redraw legislative district maps in order to help their friends ...and hurt their enemies. Democrats AND Republicans both do it, and it's strangling our democracy.

You CAN do something about it - and we’re here to help. Voting districts are redrawn every 10 years with new Census data, which comes out later THIS YEAR.

This means we have to take action NOW, because the next chance we’ll have won't be until 2031.

We are the #DrawDemocracy Campaign: a group of New Yorkers who care deeply about fighting gerrymandering in our city and state. We are embarking on a campaign to educate New Yorkers about the issue and empower them to take action for fair districts. As part of that campaign, we’ve designed a one-of-a-kind Gerrymandering Puzzle (more on that later).

New York has established a bipartisan Redistricting Commission to draw new district maps. However, the members of this Commission are appointed by the leaders of the State Senate and Assembly. Ultimately, the Commission should be truly independent. It shouldn't be chosen by the party in power and the very same people whose districts are being re-drawn.

Today, we are on a mission to pressure that Commission to draw fair districts, and we want you to join us.

Take action:

• Donate $49 and get a Gerrymandering Puzzle, which is based on current New York State Senate Districts. All profits go to our efforts to organize people to pressure the Commission. When you see the actual contorted districts, it’s easy to see that they were drawn that way for some reason other than representing actual communities.
• Call or email the Commission and your NY State Senator/Assemblymember and demand that they draw and approve fair districts.
• Learn about districts in your area and why they were drawn that way on our campaign website . You can also learn a lot more about gerrymandering and fair districts there.
• Share what you learn on social media, your blog or podcast, whatever your preferred means of communication is! Tag us on Twitter or use the hashtag #DrawDemocracy.
• Testify or just attend an upcoming hearing in your borough.
• Join us as we go out with other grassroots groups and talk to people in target districts about fixing these maps.

Be an EMPOWERED constituent! Not just an average voter.

Check out our video about gerrymandering in New York!

*If you choose to send a puzzle to any of the officials listed above, please note that this puzzle may NOT BE INTENDED AS A GIFT for state employees or officials – it may only be intended as a political message. It is illegal in NY state to give gifts that are intended to influence the decision-making of any elected official, public employee, public board member, or public committee member. For more guidance on gifts, see here.

If someone has already sent a puzzle to your legislator, we will ask that you send to another legislator.

We strongly discourage registered lobbyists in NY state from sending puzzles, though you are still free to donate any amount.

We ask that those outside NYC provide an additional $7 for shipping.

All funds raised will be used to bring attention to the issue of Gerrymandering and to pressure the Commission into drawing fair districts. Donations, which go to True Democracy NY, a 501(c)(4) organization, are not tax-deductible.

If you would like to donate by check, please mail your check to:

True Democracy NY
541 Monroe St. #1
Brooklyn, NY 11221

Here is our budget for the campaign:

$4,000 for the Gerrymandering Jigsaw Puzzle:

• Production of 100 puzzles, including test prototypes and packaging
• Shipping and handling costs

$2,700 for organizing, content and advertising:

• Talking to voters on the streets about gerrymandering in NY
• Web content and design
• Printing and print design
• Social media
• Digital advertising

$300 for video production:

• Camera and mic rental
• Puppet

Check us out on social media:

Twitter: @DrawDemocracyNY

Instagram: @DrawDemocracyNY

You can reach us by email at [email redacted].

For more information, visit our campaign website (hosted by our partner org, RepresentUs NY).