Why Vermont’s Democracy is Being Distorted—And How Lawmakers Can Fix It Before 2030
In a nation that prides itself on “one person, one vote,” an obscure federal policy is quietly undermining democracy in Vermont—and across many parts of the country. The 2020 Census once again distorted Vermont’s legislative redistricting process, creating imbalanced voting districts due to the flawed and outdated practice of prison gerrymandering.
Unless Vermont lawmakers take decisive action, this pattern will continue in 2030—unfairly inflating the political power of certain districts at the expense of others and distorting representation for all.
The Problem: Prison Gerrymandering and Its Impact on Vermont
At the heart of this issue is the federal government’s policy of counting incarcerated individuals as residents of the prison where they are held, rather than the communities they come from.
In Vermont, this disproportionately impacts small, rural districts where prisons are located. A district that includes a large prison population receives an artificial boost in political representation, even though incarcerated people—who are denied the right to vote—have no say in the electoral process and often have no ties to the communities where they are imprisoned.
This is known as prison gerrymandering, and it’s a silent but serious threat to fair representation.
🚨 What It Looks Like in Practice:
Let’s say one district houses a prison with 500 inmates. Those inmates are counted as part of the local population, even though they:
- Come from other parts of the state (or country),
- Cannot vote, and
- Are not engaged in the local economy or community.
That district’s population appears larger than it actually is, giving residents there more political influence per person than residents in districts without prisons. It’s democracy on paper—but not in practice.
How the 2020 Census Skewed Vermont’s Legislative Map
Despite awareness of this issue, Vermont continued to rely on federal census data as-is during its 2020 redistricting cycle. The result? Another decade of distorted political representation.
For example, some lawmakers are effectively representing hundreds of “phantom constituents” who are incarcerated and have no political voice, while other legislators serve disproportionately larger constituencies. This isn’t just a technical glitch—it’s a violation of basic democratic principles.
While several states—including California, New York, and Colorado—have passed legislation to end prison gerrymandering and count incarcerated people in their home communities, Vermont has not yet followed suit.
The Path Forward: Vermont Can—and Must—Fix This Before 2030
The good news? This is entirely within Vermont’s power to fix.
State lawmakers can and should pass legislation that:
- Reallocates prison populations to their last known residential address during the redistricting process,
- Rejects distorted census counts that inflate political representation in prison-hosting districts, and
- Upholds the principle of equal representation for all Vermont citizens.
This would bring Vermont in line with a growing national movement to end prison gerrymandering—and ensure the state’s electoral maps are based on real people with real political agency.
📢 Join the fight for fair redistricting and an end to prison gerrymandering. Learn more at our Voting Resource Center.
Why This Matters: Fair Representation Is a Cornerstone of Sustainability
At Sustainable Action Now, we believe sustainability isn’t just about the environment—it’s about sustaining justice, equity, and democratic integrity. When any system unfairly advantages one group over another—especially in our democracy—it erodes the foundations of a just society.
Prison gerrymandering is more than a census quirk. It’s a systemic injustice that disenfranchises entire communities, especially those already impacted by mass incarceration, poverty, and racial inequality.
And when the Census distorts data, every other system built on that data—healthcare, education, infrastructure, voting—suffers.
Taking Action: What You Can Do Today
✅ Call on Vermont Legislators to End Prison Gerrymandering
Urge your elected officials to prioritize redistricting reform before the 2030 Census. It’s time to bring fairness back to the drawing board.
✅ Support Organizations Fighting for Redistricting Justice
Groups like the Prison Policy Initiative and others are leading the charge nationally. Amplify their work and stay informed.
✅ Educate Your Community
Most people don’t even know this issue exists. Share this article, talk to friends, and help raise awareness about why counting incarcerated people in prisons is fundamentally undemocratic.
A More Just Vermont Is Possible
Vermont has a proud history of civic engagement, political independence, and progressive reform. Ending prison gerrymandering is the next step in that legacy.
By addressing this redistricting flaw now, state lawmakers can protect the integrity of Vermont’s democracy and ensure that every vote counts equally in 2030 and beyond.
Let’s fix the census distortion. Let’s honor democracy with action.
🗳️ 💬 Because in a true democracy, representation should never be a matter of where you’re confined—but where you call home.
