HomeMy WebLinkAbout20251698.tiffLLEAGUVEFLVEVMEEL N VOTERSOFD COUNTY
June 12, 2025
Dear Weld County Board of Commissioners and Redistricting Commission,
We're writing to express our gratitude and appreciation for the work that has been put
into the redistricting process. The Board has clearly spent time organizing meetings and
maps, as well as appointing county personnel with expertise to assist.
We agree with you that the redistricting process should be open and transparent, and
we'd like to share some suggestions to encourage more public participation as well as
better understanding of how to participate.
A minimum of two days' notice and county -wide posting of the agenda before each
Listening Session would allow for better public involvement. We realize that Colorado
Open Meetings Law states that meetings must be noticed at least 24 hours minimum, but
we feel that 48 hours would increase public engagement, and the Greeley -Weld League of
Women Voters is happy to assist in these efforts. We noted that the Aims Community
College -Ft. Lupton meeting on June 2 was not posted or announced county -wide.
We strongly suggest that a Listening Session be held in Greeley.
We ask that proper notice (including location) and meeting agendas for Advisory Council
meetings be posted on the Weld County Redistricting website and Weld County social
media. We ask that opportunities be provided for public input at these meetings.
Because redistricting is such an important action for voters, we ask that the Board of
Commissioners provide general publicity around the county to inform the citizens of
opportunities to participate in the process. The Greeley -Weld League of Women Voters is
happy to assist with redistricting education.
We ask that you make proposed maps available on the Weld County redistricting website
so the public can provide input. Please include the Base Map (current map of Weld County
Districts) for context, as well as additional data on demographics, minority groups, and
political affiliation. An explanation and the decision -making process for each proposed
map would be very helpful in understanding the maps and the ideas behind them,
especially on the redistricting criteria of:
• population equality,
• compliance with federal Voting Rights Act, 52 USC 10301 et.seq.,
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• keeping communities of interest and political subdivisions in the same district,
• geographical compactness of districts, and
• political competitiveness.
Avoter at the Listening Session in Eaton requested that redistricting information be
translated into Spanish. Because Weld County (and soon Greeley) is required to provide
Spanish -language ballots due to the number of Spanish -speakers in the county, translation
of redistricting materials seems appropriate and would be appreciated.
Again, the League of Women Voters of Greeley -Weld County appreciates the work that
has gone into the redistricting process so far, and we look forward to supporting these
efforts until maps have been fairly decided. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we might
be of assistance.
Sincerely yours,
Barbara L. Whinery
Redistricting Spokesperson
League of Women Voters of Greeley -Weld County
cc: Beth Hendrix, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Colorado
Jeanne Lipman, Chair (2025-26), League of Women Voters Greeley -Weld County
Thomas Tai, Staff Attorney, League of Women Voters of the United States
Kurtis Morrison, Office of the Attorney General of Colorado
Kendra Beckwith, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Matt Conroy, Weld County Chief Deputy Attorney
Rudy Santos, Weld County Chief Deputy Clerk and Recorder
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