Editor, OBSERVER:

Last year was a monumental year for many reasons, including the census.

The census population counts will impact much in New York state, from school funding, to Medicaid, to how our legislative lines will be redrawn for the next 10 years. The League was a proud partner in supporting the census and is now focused on seeing that our state and local lines are redrawn not to serve the incumbent legislators, but to serve all New Yorkers.

Voting districts need to reflect actual communities, not carefully crafted districts that protect the party in power (whichever party that happens to be).

The League of Women Voters has launched the “People Powered Fair Maps New York State” campaign and is working to provide info to New Yorkers on the redistricting process.

A website www.NYRedistricting.org has been created to make educational materials on redistricting and mapping accessible to the public.

New Yorkers know how their communities have changed since the last census in 2010. The League urges them to make voices heard, in order to choose their elected officials, not the other way around.

April 29 was designated the “People Powered Fair Maps National Day of Action.” We urge all New Yorkers to join the League in supporting fair maps.

LISA MERTZ,

board of directors,

League of Women Voters of Chautauqua County