Redistricting map updates: proposals, advancements, and enactments between Sept. 22 and 29
At least eight states made progress in either proposing, advancing, or enacting new district maps between Sept. 22 and 29.
Proposed
New maps were proposed in Arkansas, Georgia, and North Dakota.
Arkansas: Between Sept. 9 and 27, fifteen state legislators—nine Republicans and six Democrats—introduced 17 proposed maps of the state’s four congressional districts. The House and Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee met jointly on Sept. 20, 23, and 27 to consider these proposals, which now go before the Arkansas State Legislature, which began a special session on Sept. 29.
In Arkansas, the state legislature is responsible for congressional redistricting. State legislative districts, on the other hand, are drawn by the Arkansas Board of Apportionment, a three-person board made up of Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), Atty. Gen. Leslie Rutledge (R), and Sec. of State John Thurston (R). As of Sept. 29, the board had not released any draft state legislative maps.
View the proposals here.
Georgia: On Sept. 27, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) and state Sen. John Kennedy (R) released the first draft proposal of the state’s new congressional districts. The Georgia General Assembly will consider this proposal and any others released over the coming month at a special legislative session starting Nov. 3.
View the proposed map here.
North Dakota: The North Dakota Legislative Redistricting Committee released a statewide draft map for state legislative districts on Sept. 23. The Associated Press’ James MacPherson wrote that the proposal adds three districts to the state’s fastest-growing regions—Fargo and areas experiencing an oil boom—with an equal number removed from other rural areas.
View the proposals here.
Advanced
Colorado, Indiana, and Nebraska got one step closer to enacting new maps as proposals advanced to the next stage.
Colorado: The Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission voted 11-1 in support of a congressional map plan, sending it to the Colorado Supreme Court for final approval. Due to population growth, Colorado received an eighth congressional district, which was drawn to include areas north of Denver and encompassing Greeley, one of the fastest-growing towns in the state. The district would also have a Hispanic population of 39%, the largest such concentration in the state.
View the proposed map here.
Indiana: The Indiana House of Representatives voted 67-31 on Sept. 23 in support of proposed state legislative and congressional maps. Three Republicans—Reps. Jeff Ellington, Matt Hostettler, and John Jacob—joined 28 Democrats in opposing the maps. All 67 votes in favor of the maps were from Republicans. The proposals advanced to the Senate, which is expected to hold a vote on Oct. 1.
View the proposals here.
Nebraska: The Nebraska State Legislature gave first- and second-round approval to a set of congressional and state legislative maps on Sept. 24 and 28, respectively. The maps, introduced by Redistricting Committee Chairwoman Sen. Lou Ann Linehan (R), have been amended and will face a third and likely final round of voting. If passed, the maps then proceed to the Secretary of State’s office.
View the proposals here.
Approved
The governors of Illinois and Oregon signed new maps into law.
Illinois: Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed adjusted state legislative maps into law on Sept. 24. Pritzker previously enacted new state legislative districts on June 4. Those maps were based on American Community Survey data. On Aug. 31, the Illinois State Legislature reconvened to adjust the maps to account for the release of 2020 census data, which resulted in the copy ultimately signed into law.
Oregon: On Sept. 27, the Oregon State Legislature approved final congressional and state legislative district maps. Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed the maps into law the same day.