Public Comments

As an eighty-one year old voter, it is my expectation that all deliberations and decisions regarding Colorado redistricting will be honest, balanced and fair. Please honor these expectations because my heart and mind cannot accept anything less!

I'm concerned because my understanding is yesterday, anonpartisan, neutral redistricting staff submitted their final set of legislative maps to the commission, which would ensure fair representation for the people of Colorado, as they wanted. Now I'm learning there may be competing maps that seem to be more partisan which could replace that map. I belive our communities deserve to know who is behind efforts to undermine communities who have spoken out and want their voices heard so they are represented. Partisan maps are a problem so please ensure the integrity of the districts and transparency in who is designing maps.

I've been closely following the US House redistricting maps. In a state that voted for Biden by over 10 points, it would be unfair and against the design of the commission to end up with a 4-4 Dem/GOP split. The 8th district I believe is 1.6 pts leaning Dem, but should be much safer for Democrats. Otherwise this is a gerrymander for the GOP. Which is unfortunately happening all over the country in states where the GOP runs the redistricting. Colorado should have a map that represents our electorate.

Republican legislative Redistricting Commissioners Hunter Barnett (R) and Aislinn Kottwitz (R) are working with non-disclosing and unregistered GOP operatives lobbying to shove through a last-minute set of maps to the Supreme Court that would fundamentally alter the make-up of the state senate and house, almost certainly ensuring control for Colorado Republicans over the next decade. This is a mockery of everything that Independent Redistricting Commissions are meant to stand for.

The NONPARTISON Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission has made its recommendations regarding congressional/legislative districts for the state. This activity demands transparency from all sides of the political spectrum. It is essential that neither Republicans, Democrats or Independents attempt to alter recommendations by working behind the scenes to change these recommendations. It is your responsibility as Commissioners to reject attempts of gerrymandering of your recommendations by Republican representatives Barnett and Kottwitz, who would undermine the independence of the actions taken by the Commission. Thank you for the important work you do. Sincerely, Sharon N-Kase

Please submit the final map created by the redistricting commission. It is fair and follows the restrictions set by the voters. Any other map that doesn't follow the process should be rejected, particularly those created by commissioners Barnett and Kottwitz. Thanks for your attention in this important matter.

I’m requesting that this committee stand for transparency and resolutely reject the gerrymandered maps being pushed by Republican committee members and special interests. Thank you Cindy Slosson

I appreciate the work that you did, but I am very concerned that you tried to maintain the status quo to protect Republican voters, at the expense of all other voters. This is the opposite of what Colorado needs, and it is certainly NOT what we had expected from you. We need voting districts that serve to amplify the votes and voices of the underprivileged and the non-white citizens of our state. Right now, just a few voting districts in our state do this, and they are all in the metro Denver area. However, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Black Americans live in every part of the state. People who care about the environment and gun control live in every part of the state. People who care about the pandemic and the dangers that we find in our air and water live in every part of the state. Sadly, if these voters are outside of the Denver/Front Range area, their needs and thoughts are not being addressed. While every racial / ethnic group should be heard, it would have been much better if you adopted the map that gave more input from Hispanic voters, because they are the largest non-white group in our state at the moment. This would have been the most expeditious and easiest map to choose in order to break the stranglehold that oil, gas, ranching, and the military industrial complex have over our state. I urge the court to reject the map that was submitted as "final" and instead to choose one of the maps that encourages more input from the non-white citizens of this state, at both the state and federal levels. Thank you.

Redistricting should be as sacrosanct as voting. Republicans are clearly violating the intent of these requirements and should be legally charged with criminal behavior in voter tampering. WJ Bowman MD

There should be no Gerrymandering in Colorado. The Districts need to be drawn to insure that one person, one vote is carried out, not one person, 20 votes in Gerrymandered Districts. You have an opportunity to get this right for every voter. Do not let last minute maneuvering prevent you from insuring equal voting power for each individual.