Vote for representation, not party
To the editor:
The new reality is that the Florida House of Representatives district map has been changed effective immediately. This has caused tension, worry and confusion among the residents of District-17. I am a long-time resident in this District 17 community. As the news broke about the reshuffling of the district maps, confusion gave away to anxiety and questions in my neighborhood.
“Why now? The Florida House of Representatives has announced that its decision was based on the undeniable statistics of populations that have shifted. Is there a sister game at play? Is this a move to keep Republicans in the majority, to keep voter suppression and representation in check, to cause confusion, to create a super majority , to protect incumbents, to dilute minority voters and people of color, to secure a legislative seat in congress or is this a lie?
It has been over a decade (2010) since voters passed the “Fair District Amendment ” by a popular vote of 63% , and the amendment became a constitutional amendment in our great state of Florida constitution. “This Republican majority change isn’t about numbers; ” it’s about power and control.” The approach to gerrymandering is by changing the margins of highly concentrated districts or by cracking to split up districts by decreasing the majority.
This is now settled by the Florida Supreme Court.
There was one member of the Supreme Court who wrote a dissent on this judgment, Judge Jorge Ladaga rebuked the court for refusing to block the newly drawn congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterms. He criticized the majority of the court for a “path of delayed appellate review” that could cause disenfranchising millions of voters for their right to vote just before the election deadline.” Lawsuits have been filed.
Whatever district you live in VOTE, vote, fight for representation not boundaries drawn on a map. Become aware of your candidates and support your candidates, raise your voices ,write letters to the newspapers, all these moves are clouds above our heads and smokescreens amid a planned chaos. This is reality and we must protect freedom and our right to vote .
Freedom to vote is not free, if it is just words.
Vote, register to vote, mail in your voting ballots and keep abreast of new changes in Florida.
Kathleen Callard
North Fort Myers