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League of Women Voters materials define 'communities of interest' and warn against incumbency protection
Summary
Materials displayed by the League of Women Voters described "communities of interest" as local groups sharing economic, environmental, social or policy concerns and advised avoiding incumbency protection and partisan gerrymandering; slide noted 24 states address such communities in redistricting guidance.
Materials from a League of Women Voters presentation defined a "community of interest" as "a neighborhood or group of people who share common economic, environmental, social, or policy concerns and would benefit from staying together," and said such definitions let local residents "tell [their] own story" when drawing district lines.
The slide noted that "24 states address communities of interest directly, asking redistricting bodies to consider various types of communities in drawing district lines," and emphasized that communities should be defined by local members. A separate slide section, labeled "What to Avoid," listed "Incumbency Protection (respect, do not protect)" and "Partisan Gerrymandering" among practices that should not guide drawing districts.
The presentation stressed that communities of interest are especially helpful for groups "traditionally left out of the political process," and urged map-drawers to focus on shared economic, environmental, social or policy concerns rather than political advantage. The slide did not include a speaker name or next procedural steps; it presented guidance and examples intended for public education about redistricting considerations.
