Redistricting Commissions

Congressional Redistricting Under HR1: A Primer for State Officials

By Jeffrey M. WiceMar 24, 2021

S.1/H.R.1 is a comprehensive piece of legislation dealing with election administration, voting procedures, and campaign finance, and it includes dramatic requirements for the congressional redistricting process in nearly every state. Whats more, these requirements may apply to the current redistricting cycle. My colleague Nick Stabile and I at New York Law School's NY Census & Redistricting Institute have drafted this guide (below) for state officials to comply with S.1/H.R.1 if the bill is enacted into law in its current form. It is designed as a “how-to” guide for states to implement HR1/S1’s redistricting provisions if enacted “as is." https://redistrictingonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/HR-1-_-S-1-Redistricting-Primer-for-State-Officials-03.23.2021.pdf Read…

FEATURES, LATEST, Official Redistricting Entities, Partisan Gerrymandering, POLICY and PRACTICE, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting Criteria, Redistricting PrepHR1, lawindepth, national, redistricting reform

A Proposal for a Nevada Independent Redistricting Commission May be Headed for the Ballot. Again

By EditorMar 22, 2021

In Nevada last Wednesday a proposed constitutional amendment was introduced in the legislature that would establish a seven-member independent redistricting commission to draw the state's congressional and state legislative districts. The amendment, if adopted would prohibit partisan line-drawing and require competitive districts. The senate and house minority and majority leaders would appoint four commission members and those four would appoint the remaining three members, who must be unaffiliated voters or from a third political party. The joint resolution would still need to be approved in two consecutive sessions of the legislature and by a majority of voters. In 2011 a…

NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsNevada, STATENEWS

Michigan Redistricting Commission Approves 16 Public Hearing Sites

By EditorMar 18, 2021

Press Release (Mar 17, 2021): The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) has approved 16 public hearing sites to solicit input from Michigan residents about the redistricting process for congressional, state senate, and state house districts. Before drawing any lines, the MICRC is required to hold at least 10 public hearings. Per the Michigan Constitution, the purposes for the public hearings are to: Inform the public about the redistricting process.Share the purpose and responsibilities of the Commission.Solicit information from the public about potential redistricting plans for U.S. Congressional, Michigan House, and Michigan Senate districts. The public hearings are tentatively scheduled…

NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsMichigan, STATENEWS

2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Expands Public Input Tool to Chinese and Tagalog

By EditorMar 11, 2021

PRESS RELEASE: March 11, 2021 SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) and the California Statewide Database announced the availability of the online Communities of Interest (COI) mapping tool in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Tagalog, in addition to English and Spanish. Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts so that the state’s population is evenly allocated among the new districts. When the Commission creates new districts, it must follow certain guidelines, one of which is…

NEWS, Redistricting, Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting CriteriaCalifornia

New York State Officials Sued Over Funding for Redistricting Commission

By EditorMar 09, 2021

The controversy over funding of the New York Redistricting Commission has come to a head as two individuals sue the governor and other state officials over the impasse. One plaintiff is a former candidate for the state legislature and the other, a member of the commission itself. They challenge the decision to provide funding for the commission through a third-party organization as opposed to a direct appropriation, which they claim is required by the state constitutional provision establishing the commission. This is the latest in a months-long saga for the commission that began when funds were not appropriated to the…

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2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission Makes Historic Hire with First Latino Executive Director

By EditorMar 04, 2021

Press Release: SACRAMENTO, CA (Feb. 25, 2021) —Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) confirmed Interim Executive Director Álvaro E. Hernández as its permanent Executive Director. Mr. Hernandez becomes the first Latino to serve in this post in a state where 40% of the population is Latino. The announcement was made upon reconvening from a closed session. “The Commission is thrilled to announce the hiring of Álvaro E. Hernández as its permanent Executive Director,” stated Chair Pedro Toledo. “Mr. Hernández’ promotion recognizes the Commission’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Mr. Hernández created the comprehensive outreach plan immediately upon…

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Amendments to H.R. 1 Take Congressional Map-Drawing Out of the Hands of State Legislatures in 2021

By EditorMar 03, 2021

In mid-February, we reported about potential sweeping reforms of the congressional redistricting process in the states proposed by Congress. The bill (H.R. 1) would have been effective in 2030 but newly added amendments on Monday, make it a requirement for states this year. Yes. This year. The amended H.R.1 requires states to either create an agency to establish a commission or designate an existing one to carry out a detailed commissioner selection process. The procedural requirements are substantial and maps created by the commission must meet various rigorous statistical measures to avoid partisan gerrymandering. A vote is scheduled on the…

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California Redistricting Commission Launches Communities of Interest Tool

By EditorMar 03, 2021

PRESS RELEASE 2020 California Citizens Redistricting CommissionLaunches Communities of Interest Tool SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) and the California Statewide Database announced the launch of the Communities of Interest (COI) input tool, designed to make it easier for Californians to participate in the redistricting process. Every 10 years, after the federal government publishes updated census information, California must redraw the boundaries of its Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts so that the state’s population is evenly allocated among the new districts. When the Commission creates new districts, it must follow certain…

Redistricting Commissions, Redistricting CriteriaCalifornia, coi tool, communities of interest, policyindepth, press-releases, redistricting commissions, STATENEWS

California Redistricting Commission Parts with Executive Director

By EditorFeb 23, 2021

In a Feb. 18 press release, the Commission advised that it had accepted Executive Director Daniel Claypool's, resignation after a closed meeting on the 16th. No further details were given on the reason for Claypool's departure, but the portion of the meeting on the 16th that was publicly aired included a rather lengthy and robust discussion about the commission's outreach budget. You can view the meeting below. The discussion begins at 3:42. https://youtu.be/4qAAb9NW6sk Here is the relevant text of the press release: 2020 California Citizens Redistricting CommissionAccepts Resignation of Executive Director SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission)…

NEWS, Official Redistricting Entities, Redistricting, Redistricting CommissionsCalifornia, Independent Redistricting Commission, redistricting commissions, STATENEWS

Redistricting Commissions are Now in a Majority of States

By EditorFeb 22, 2021

In case you missed it, as of this January when Maryland’s Governor announced the creation of an advisory redistricting commission, 26 states now have some form of a redistricting commission. Other recent additions include Ohio and Virginia. Commissions with Power to Enact a Map These commissions have the initial (and sometimes ultimate authority) to enact a redistricting map for a state. This includes “citizen” or “independent” commissions, in addition to appointed or hybrid commissions. AlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoHawaiiIdahoMichiganMissouriMontanaNew JerseyOhioPennsylvaniaWashingtonSome but not all of these commissions listed have authority over “both” congressional and legislative maps. Advisory or Backup Commissions Advisory commissions go through the…

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