Help Protect the Vote in Dutchess County, NY

Dutchess County Citizen Volunteers seek funding for legal expenses to stop the County from disbanding the Independent Reapportionment Commission!

Background

The Dutchess County Independent Reapportionment Commission was formed in January of 2021 with one purpose: to redraw the district lines in our county according to the decennial census to ensure that elections are not influenced to favor one party, candidate, or group over others. To this end, the Commission was created by referendum to be independent from the politicians and interests that govern Dutchess County. We, the members of the Commission, are ordinary people who live in the county and were chosen to serve on the Commission pursuant to a lengthy and fair selection process.

After months of tireless work, the Commission was terminated on June 24, 2021, without warning or any legal basis via a short note from the county attorney (who until that moment had served as the Commission’s own attorney). The basis for this action was a single member's affiliation with his local school board (who resigned and was replaced). The announcement was abrupt, and the county attorney failed to give us an adequate explanation or present a law that gave him the authority to end our work. Within days the County Legislature had voted to alter the voting districts within the County and form a new Commission—and specifically barred all of us from serving on the new Commission. These actions are not authorized under law. Further, the legislature has ignored our request for resources to obtain legal counsel – resources that are available to use by law.

From its formation by our County Legislature, the mission of our *Independent* Commission was to operate outside of politics and partisanship. We came together, not as Republicans and Democrats, but as members of our community committed to preserving the voting rights of our fellow Dutchess County residents. Our Commission embodies everything fair and just in the political process, all of which now hangs in the balance.

Goal

We're not giving up on our mission. We're not giving up on our county. The law does not allow a do-over. The County Attorney does not get to destroy a nonpartisan commission.

We have secured legal counsel and will be filing suit against the County to stop their unlawful power grab and protect voting rights in Dutchess County.

Was the alleged disbandment of our nonpartisan, independent commission a legal action? Or was it a partisan attempt at control by the County leadership? Why wasn't this handled impartially through the courts?

By helping with our fundraising campaign, you will help to answer that very question.

We are asking for donations to help us cover the legal expenses to challenge the actions of the County Attorney in court. Join us in our fight. Help us preserve the Independent Reapportionment Commission.

Thank you for your support!

Signed, 

Bryan Faubus
Hance Huston
Whitney Lundy 
John Pelosi 
Christie VanHorne