Testimony of Melanie Combs-Dyer before Gov. Moore’s Redistricting Advisory Commission Listening Session on 11/18

"Hello.  My name is Melanie Combs-Dyer.  

I’m a registered “Unaffiliated” voter because I don’t agree with all the Republican positions and I don’t agree with all of the Democratic positions.   I’m also the Executive Director of Let Us Vote Maryland which advocates for open primaries in Maryland and the addition of Independents on state and local Boards of Election.  In the 1st Congressional district, where I live, there are over 123,000 registered unaffiliated voters, which is 22% of the voters.As you consider further redistricting for partisan advantage, I’m wondering how you will account for independent voters in the drawing of lines.  As districts become increasingly gerrymandered for partisan reasons, the primaries become the only election that matters! The general election is not competitive -- that is the whole goal of partisan redistricting!There are close to a million unaffiliated voters in Maryland — and we are barred from voting in primary elections.     That means that we can't cast a meaningful vote for our representatives.As the commission considers the question of redistricting, please consider the question of independent voting rights!   At the heart of every election SHOULD be the participation of ALL voters.  No Marylander should be forced to join a political party to vote in a public election.

I want the Commission to consider that if they move forward with further partisan redistricting they are further disenfranchising independent voters!  One way the commission could mitigate against this would be to recommend that General Assembly open primaries to Unaffiliated voters and allow them to choose an Unaffiliated Ballot style… a ballot that would contain the names that appear on all other ballot styles.  To see a copy of a sample Unaffiliated Ballot Style and draft legislation go to www.letusvotemd.org/nonpartisan-ballot

Thank you for having this listening session today."