To the Editor:
It is critically important that the people of Albany County get involved with redistricting.

Noah Zweifel points out in his article, “Make a map: Albany County calls on residents to submit their own redistricting plans” [The Altamont Enterprise, March 18, 2022], the county legislature had a history of using redistricting to ignore the will of the voters and instead draw districts that benefit them.

He notes that prior maps have split the Hilltowns into multiple districts despite them forming a strong community of interest. That’s an example of why, for the past three decades, maps drawn by the legislature have been overturned by the court system costing taxpayers millions.

The League of Women Voters of Albany County, a non-partisan political organization, fully supported the Albany County Legislature’s decision to create an independent redistricting commission. This commission can draw fair maps, but only if they hear from the public about what areas need to be together.

There are many ways to have your voice heard but the best way is to draw maps. With lots of publicly available software, you can draw your own map of what you think districts should look like. And, if you are new to mapping, that’s OK too!

The League is offering help to anyone who wants to draw a map or have their voice heard. To submit a map to the commission, email: . For more information on how to draw maps or to get involved, please contact Lars Dahl at .

Mary Berry

Vice President

Lars Dahl

Member 

League of Women Voters

Of Albany County

Editor’s note: Patricia Sibilia, a commissioner with the Albany County Redistricting Commission, is the president of the League of Women Voters of Albany County.