rikyl:

dealanexmachina:

chillwhiskey:

ok you guys this is the only political thing i will be posting on here but re: the 2018 and 2020 elections - YOU HAVE TO VOTE. AND DEMOCRATS HAVE TO WIN THEIR CAMPAIGNS FOR STATE LEGISLATURES. IT IS SO SO SO IMPORTANT. 

why is it so important? 

because in 2020 we will have a census, which means that in 2022 districts will be redrawn. 

what does that have to do with anything? 

GERRYMANDERING. 

 wtf is gerrymandering? 

gerrymandering is the redrawing of districts to benefit a specific political party. basically, if the republican party is gerrymandering, they will split a heavily democratic area into different districts and lump them in with primarily republican areas in order to dilute the voting power of democrats. democrats will do the same to republicans. this practice has been deemed unconstitutional by the SCOTUS, but they’ve never agreed on a way to regulate it, so it still happens. in most states, the state legislature creates a redistricting plan, so if you want elections for the next 10 years to swing democratic, you NEED to elect democrats to your state legislature. as of now, most states are districted to favor republicans, and in 2022 republicans would only gerrymander more, making it even harder for democrats to be elected. 

BE READY TO MOBILIZE AND CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRATS AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL IN 2018 AND 2020, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WE ELECT WILL HAVE A HUGE SAY IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

Gerrymandering explained in the graphic above.

Fun fact #1: The word gerrymandering comes from the name of Elbridge Gerry, vice president under James Madison, who while governor of Massachusetts approved a salamander-shaped district that benefited his party. (Never trust a guy named Elbridge!)

Fun fact #2: Obama has made this his top priority for after he leaves office. It is that important.