SLATER ON REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT: THIS ISN'T REFORM, IT'S A POLITICAL POWER GRAB

Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) spoke in opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment that would weaken New York's independent redistricting process, calling the measure a political power grab disguised as reform.

During debate on the Assembly floor, Slater argued that the amendment would undermine safeguards established by New York voters to prevent partisan manipulation of congressional district lines and concentrate greater power in the hands of whichever political party controls the Legislature.

“More than a decade ago, New Yorkers made a conscious decision to take politicians out of the map-drawing process,” said Slater. “Now, because some politicians don’t like the outcome of the current maps, they’re trying to change the rules. That’s not reform. That’s not modernization. It’s a political power grab.”

In 2014, New York voters approved a constitutional amendment creating the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC), with 58% voting in favor. The commission was designed to create a more transparent and bipartisan process for drawing legislative and congressional district boundaries.

The current proposal would remove key bipartisan approval requirements that voters originally demanded, making it easier for a legislative majority to advance congressional maps without broad consensus. According to Slater, the amendment moves New York away from the principles voters endorsed and toward a system that places greater control in the hands of politicians.

“The people of New York have already spoken—twice,” Slater said. “They voted for independent redistricting in 2014, and when Albany politicians attempted to weaken that process, voters rejected those changes in 2021. New Yorkers were clear: They want independent maps, not maps drawn for partisan advantage.”

Slater also pointed to a broader effort by national and state Democratic leaders to revisit congressional district lines mid-decade, even though redistricting traditionally occurs following the decennial census. Recent reports indicate Democratic officials have discussed new avenues for redrawing congressional districts in response to political developments in other states.

“People should choose their elected officials—not elected officials choosing their voters,” Slater said. “If politicians can simply rewrite the rules whenever the political winds shift, then why ask the voters in the first place? Why have constitutional protections at all?”

Slater warned that the amendment represents a dangerous precedent that could further erode public trust in government.

“Theodore Roosevelt came to Albany to fight political machines that used government power to protect themselves. More than 140 years later, we’re facing a modern version of the same problem,” Slater said. “This proposal weakens constitutional safeguards and makes it easier for politicians to manipulate district lines for their own benefit. Theodore Roosevelt fought political machines. This amendment empowers them.”

Slater concluded by urging lawmakers and voters to reject efforts that weaken the independent redistricting process and instead respect the decisions New Yorkers have already made at the ballot box.

“This debate comes down to a simple question: Do we trust the voters, or do we trust the politicians? I trust the voters.”