b'Everyone Counts Will SC have equitable redistricting for fair representation?By Tameka Kenan-NormanFor months, many SC residents were inundated withrepresentation. The redistricting process is completed the messaging that everyone counts. Televisionby the SC Legislature at the state and congressional commercials were used to explain the rudimentarylevel,andlocallybyschoolboards,countyandcity aspects of the Census. Social media shares andcouncils. comments urged its completion, and for those unaware of the far-reaching implications, volunteersHowever, gerrymandering has become an all-too worked to educate them that the Census directsfamiliar term, described as politicians drawing district funding for schools,maps to their housing, roadspolitical advantage, and health care, allskewing election impacted by theoutcomes and redistricting process.suppressing voter But, did everyoneinterests. This truly understandunconstitutional the urgent plea forpractice has participation? Thisespecially become question reverberatesa concern in with rural populationsSC, where many comprised of residentsrural counties without Internetexperienced access to receivepopulation declines a majority of theand where district messaging, and Census volunteers whose door-knocklines will be determined largely by Republican efforts were curtailed by a devastating pandemic.majorities in the SC House and Senate, according to Rep. Wendy Brawley (D-Richland).Every10years,theCensusacquiresinformation aboutpopulationsizeandthecharacteristicsofMuchofthepubliccommentary,andcertainly individuals in a given population. After each Census,myconstituents,havevoicedconcernsthatrural populationchangesoverthedecadepromptthecommunities,manyofthemminorityandlow-redistrictingprocess,orredrawingthelinesoftheincome, will lose representation, says Brawley. There districts from which public officials are elected. It is aisageneralconcernthatdisparitiesineducation, mandate that districts must be drawn so that they areaccesstohealthcare,childcare,cleanwater,jobs equal in population size, resulting in fair governmentand so much more will only get worse if rural areas 12IMARA'