Indiana’s maps already tilt the scales. Now, some politicians want to redraw them mid-decade to make sure they never lose or are held accountable.

Indiana Republicans already hold far more power than their share of the vote — supermajorities in the legislature, every statewide office, and control over how district lines are drawn.

Now, instead of listening to voters, they’re talking about redrawing the maps in the middle of the decade — breaking long respected precedent — to protect themselves from ever being held accountable.

This push had largely stalled earlier this year after public backlash made it clear Hoosiers didn’t want another round of gerrymandering. But now Donald Trump has sent J.D. Vance back to Indiana, leaning on Republican leaders once again to force it through — ignoring voters and trying to do behind closed doors what they can’t win at the ballot box.

Let’s call it what it is: cheating.

Redistricting mid-cycle isn’t about serving voters; it’s a power grab. It’s an attempt to choose their voters before voters ever get to choose them. And it would make an already unbalanced system even more rigged against accountability and competition.

Here in Howard County, we know what it means to be underrepresented. Our community deserves a fair chance to be heard — not to be sliced apart again for someone’s political advantage.