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Two proposed constitutional amendments that would make Florida elections more competitive are being challenged by the state legislature.

The proposed amendments aim to end gerrymandering, a practice of drawing legislative and congressional districts to manipulate the outcome of elections. Legislative leaders want to add their own constitutional amendments to the ballot that, if approved, would trump the two amendments placed on the ballot by voters’ signatures. The legislative plan would allow gerrymandering in an effort to ensure minority representation. Representative Geraldine Thompson says legislative leaders are using minorities as a scapegoat to ensure Republicans keep control of both chambers.

“This is an obvious attempt to use racial and ethnic minority members of the legislature to do the dirty work of the people who are in power and who will not concede and who will not allow the people who are in the state of Florida to take politics out of redistricting,” said Thompson.

Every ten years Florida’s districts are redrawn. Democrats held control of the state House and Senate until the 1990s, when districts were drawn to favor Republicans.