Why Women4Change Indiana Stood Up Against Redistricting—and Why the Fight Continues
Every ten years, new political maps are drawn in Indiana to reflect population shifts after the U.S. Census. On the surface, this might sound like a routine exercise in governance. But in practice, the way those maps are drawn can determine who holds power, whose voices are heard, and which communities are represented—or left behind.
In 2021, Women4Change Indiana chose to stand firmly against partisan redistricting. We did so because the integrity of our democracy depends on more than just access to the ballot box. It depends on whether every vote carries equal weight once cast.
Redistricting, often known as gerrymandering, is the manipulation of district boundaries to favor one political party over another. It often involves two tactics:
Packing: concentrating opposing voters into a few districts so their influence is limited.
Cracking: spreading opposing voters thinly across many districts so they cannot form a majority anywhere.
The result is the same: election outcomes are predetermined, and voters lose meaningful influence.
In Indiana, this practice has meant that despite one party receiving more than 40% of the statewide vote in congressional elections, it consistently holds far fewer seats than that share would suggest. That’s not just math—it’s lost representation for entire communities.
At Women4Change, our mission has always been rooted in strengthening democracy and amplifying the voices of underrepresented individuals. When Indiana prepared to redraw its political maps in 2021, we recognized that redistricting posed a direct threat to those values.
Here’s why we acted:
Fair representation is fundamental. Without equitable maps, voters—especially women, young people, and communities of color—are denied a true say in their government.
Transparency builds trust. When redistricting happens behind closed doors, it erodes public confidence in the democratic process.
Education empowers action. Many Hoosiers didn’t know how gerrymandering worked or why it mattered. By raising awareness, we gave citizens the tools to demand accountability.
This is why Women4Change commissioned independent research, shared findings with the public, and called for a fair, transparent redistricting process. We understood that silence would only reinforce a system designed to shut voters out.
Our work in 2021 was never just about maps—it was about democracy itself. Redistricting undermines the principle of “one person, one vote.” It creates a system where politicians choose their voters, instead of voters choosing their representatives.
By standing up, Women4Change demonstrated that civic organizations play a critical role in ensuring fairness. We reminded Hoosiers that democracy is not self-sustaining. It requires vigilance, advocacy, and the courage to challenge practices that weaken the people’s voice.
The lessons from 2021 remain urgent today:
Unfair maps last a decade. Once drawn, they shape policy and representation for years.
Redistricting impacts everything. From healthcare to education, the representatives we elect make decisions that affect our daily lives.
Fair maps protect democracy. When every vote counts equally, leaders are more responsive to the people—not just to partisan interests.
The fight for fair maps in Indiana is not over. Each redistricting cycle brings new challenges and new opportunities to safeguard voter representation. What Women4Change did in 2021 was a beginning, not an end.
We stood up then because democracy demanded it. We continue to stand up now because Hoosiers deserve nothing less than a government that reflects their voices, values, and communities. Because when the lines are drawn fairly, every voice matters—and that’s the foundation of a healthy democracy.