AUSTIN, Texas — The third special session of the Texas Legislature starts today, marking the beginning of yet another month where Texas lawmakers will go to extreme lengths in an attempt to pass abhorrent laws and further exhaust an already weary electorate. This time around, the focus is on redistricting, where some cynical Texas lawmakers are setting out to redraw voting maps along partisan lines in order to further entrench their own political power.

MOVE Texas Action Fund Executive Director Claudia Yoli Ferla issued the following statement:

“The same lawmakers who want to restrict the freedom to vote in order to cling to power, are now setting out to redraw voting maps along partisan lines to further protect themselves from accountability to the electorate. The calculation is the same now as it was before: ignore the needs of everyday Texans and do everything possible to avoid the consequences of implementing extremist and unpopular policies. Now, instead of focusing on the real issues facing working Texans, the Governor continues his bigoted attacks on trans kids while tying the hands of local leaders working to address COVID-19.

“Every 10 years we get a chance to redraw voting maps to bring our current electoral landscape into alignment with a rapidly changing state. Over the past decade, Texas has seen incredible growth and 95% of it comes from communities of color. Let us be clear: it is imperative that the new maps reflect this reality and respect our communities’ right to have a voice in our political process.

“Democracy only works when the voters pick their leaders and not the other way around. We’re calling on Texas lawmakers to reclaim what little moral authority they still possess to ensure that these new maps—which will determine the political power of everyday people for

a decade—are drawn fairly, transparently, and on a non-partisan basis.

“At MOVE Texas we will continue to organize and mobilize the young and diverse generation of Texans who increasingly make up our state’s largest electorate. We will continue to educate them on this process, encourage them to get involved, and equip them with the tools necessary to make an impact in their communities. We’re working to build life-long social, cultural, and political power for the young people of our state. Ensuring they have fair voting maps to elect honest representatives is part of building this power—and we will fight tirelessly to realize that vision.”