Since last spring, the Campbell City Council has been debating the implications of redrawing Campbell’s voting lines to satisfy state criteria by reflecting the population growth and varying demographics and income.

Campbell, along with many other small cities such as Saratoga, is currently facing a wide variety of pressing issues that require a sense of unity rather than division. Campbell needs to preserve its current voting districts so that residents live in a city that remains whole and collaborates with districts that are currently in the city lines.

The idea of redistricting will deprive some citizens in communities of the right to vote on important policy issues because they may end up outside of the new city lines. People will sacrifice their participation in community government for the sake of satisfying criteria outlined by the state of California.

Redistricting is an unfair burden for Campbell and its neighbors. The policy not only hampers the already strained relationships between residents and government officials and hampers their ability to collaboratively address current issues, but it also denies residents a sense of belonging, the right to voice their opinions and the personal connection that they have with their cities.

Although redistricting will stop politicians from creating districts for their own political gain, the policy has far too many negative consequences. Redistricting will isolate parts of cities, create new reasons for concern among residents and cause intense disunity that will make community progress extremely difficult.