Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed new congressional and legislative maps into law on Nov. 16, 2021. These maps take effect for Nevada’s 2022 congressional and legislative elections.
Nevada is the 14th state to enact congressional maps this redistricting cycle, and the 20th state to enact legislative maps. During the 2010 redistricting cycle, Nevada enacted both congressional and legislative maps on Oct. 27, 2011, 20 days earlier than this year.
The maps were approved by the Nevada State Senate in a 12-9 vote on Nov. 14. In a press release, Democratic lawmakers said they planned to issue an amendment to the congressional draft map in the Nevada State Assembly that would aim to address requests from tribal communities in the state and the allocation of incarcerated individuals. On Nov. 16, the Nevada State Assembly voted 25-17 to pass the amended maps.
The maps were passed largely along party lines, with Democrats voting to approve the maps and Republicans voting against. The only Democrat to vote against the maps was Rep. Edgar Flores.
After signing the maps, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) said: “After a thoughtful, efficient and productive session, I am proud to sign these bills into law today. These maps reflect Nevada’s diversity and reflect public feedback gathered throughout the legislative process.” Rep. Brittney Miller (D) spoke before the final vote on the maps, saying: “These maps are fair and legal and accurately reflect the diversity of our state.”
Rep. Melissa Hardy (R) criticized the maps, saying: “A process that affects every person living in the state […] deserves to be thoroughly vetted and questioned by this body as a whole. Instead, there are a lack of answers to questions posed, an inability to ask questions of those who have the answers, and an overall lack of transparency throughout.” Rep. Jill Dickman (R) said: “This bill is universally disliked, but the reason has nothing to do with compromise because there was none.”