When voters go to the polls, they like to have a choice. They like to know their vote matters. Because casting those votes is the most fundamental act — and responsibility — of democracy.

In recent years, though, here in Arizona, individual votes were starting to matter less and less. Incumbent politicians were creating and protecting lopsided voting districts where they, or their political party, would be assured of a win.

The voters said “Enough” in 2000 with the passage of Proposition 106. They demanded more competition in our elections so that their vote would matter.

And finally, a few court cases later, it looks like the voters will finally get what they want: Real competition in our legislative districts. While the new district map approved by the courts on March 5, 2004, isn’t perfect, we think it’s important to support this map because it finally helps accomplish what the voters wanted all along: Competitive districts that give a voice back to the people and require legislators to be responsive to everyone, rather than just a few.

Prop. 106 changed our state’s Constitution to create the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC), an independent body charged with redrawing Arizona’s legislative and congressional boundaries every 10 years. This took incumbent legislators — and their self interest — out of the map drawing process. Prop. 106 also required the IRC to “favor the creation of competitive districts” — in other words, districts that encourage better qualified candidates to run and, in turn, provide voters with a choice at the polls.

Unfortunately, when the IRC came back with its new maps in 2001, instead of increasing the number of competitive districts as the voters intended, they actually decreased that number from seven competitive districts to four.

Again, the people spoke up and said, “That’s not quite what we had in mind.” And they took the IRC to court. The courts agreed that the IRC didn’t do its job of creating competitive districts and told the IRC to go back to the drawing board. And finally, just a few weeks ago, the IRC came back with a new district map that makes sense, increasing the number of competitive legislative districts to eight. The IRC is scheduled to send this map back to the judge for final approval in the first week of April.

While the map might not meet with each and every voter’s approval, it will help revive our system of open and fair elections here in Arizona by injecting some competition into the process once again.

Unfortunately, some people are trying to turn back the clock and prevent approval of this new map. They’re using the same tired old arguments that opponents of competition have been using for years to protect their stranglehold on their individual districts.

For example, legislators have been playing urban and rural communities off of each other by saying if the two were included in the same district, inevitably the needs of one would go ignored. Using arguments like that, some legislators have been able to maintain a monopoly on their existing districts.

These tired arguments do nothing to change the fact that people in every community are calling out for better representation. Statewide, people are clamoring for better schools, affordable health care, clean air and clean water, better and higher paying jobs.

With more competitive districts the voters will once again have better representation because now no politician, and no political party, is guaranteed a free ride. They must make their case to the voters.

Don’t Arizonans deserve fair representation once again?

If you agree, contact the IRC today and tell them you support the March 1 district map. The IRC is currently taking public comment on the new boundary lines, and they need to hear from supportive voters all over the state.

Visit http://azredistricting.org to submit your comments online or call (602) 364-1350 for instructions on mailing in your comments. The comment period ends April 2.

Please register your support for the new map today. It’s about time the voters get their wish for fair and honest elections where every vote — and every voter — counts.

Mary Rose Wilcox is on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Rep. Steve Gallardo represents District 13. Both are Democrats.