Heads up! Redistricting in 2011

[eridani]

http://www.redistricting.wa.gov/




Since 1790, the United States has taken an official headcount to help ensure a government by and for the people. Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution mandates this federal census every 10 years.

Enter the 22nd Census.

In spring 2001, Washington received its Census 2000 data for redrawing legislative and congressional district boundaries. Today, we count every man, woman and child to guarantee that all people are fairly represented in the political process. The new census information indicates that the state’s official 2000 population is nearly 5.9 million people — an increase of about 1 million residents in 10 years’ time. This official figure and all accompanying redistricting data, will be used by the Washington State Redistricting Commission to redraw the boundaries for each of the state’s 49 legislative and nine congressional districts.


Until the early 1980s, Washington redistricted in the way of most states: by legislative action. For decades, the Legislature redrew political boundaries in an often highly contentious process. After nearly a century of legislative redistricting, including two redistricting efforts by initiative, Washington voters decided it was time for a new approach.

In 1983, the people passed a constitutional amendment giving the decennial responsibility of redrawing political boundaries to an independent, bipartisan commission. The state’s first commission, tasked with redrawing legislative and congressional districts, was formed in 1991. During an 18-month period, it completed its mission of drawing a new district map, and disbanded. In early 2001, a new commission was appointed. Majority and minority leaders in the Legislature selected two Republicans and two Democrats to serve as voting members. The four voting commissioners then selected a non-voting chairman. This bipartisan approach ensures that neither party obtains an unfair advantage in the way redistricting is accomplished.

After a lengthy public comment period, the 2001-2002 commissioners delivered a new redistricting plan to the Legislature in January 2002. The voting commissioners unanimously approved the plan. Although the commission missed the December 15, 2001, statutory deadline, (that was subsequently revised by the Legislature) the state constitutional deadline of January 1, 2002, was met.

Following plan submission, the Legislature approved minor modifications to the 7th, 12th, 18th, 27th, 28th, and 49th legislative districts. (The Legislature cannot amend more than two-percent of any district.) In accordance with legal guidelines, the amendments were approved by a two-thirds majority of both the House and the Senate, and were passed within the first 30 days of the next legislative session. Neither the Governor nor the Legislature could reject the commission’s plan.


The plan — as amended — establishes the new boundaries for the 2002 elections.

While the commission had significant autonomy in developing a plan, they followed established legal standards. The guiding principles for creating a redistricting plan included:


• each district shall have a population, excluding non-resident military personnel, as nearly equal as practicable to the population of any other district;
• district lines should be drawn to coincide with local political subdivisions (such as city and county lines) and communities of interest;
• districts should be convenient, contiguous (share a common land border or transportation route) compact;
• 49 legislative and 9 congressional districts must be drawn based on state law and federal apportionment totals;
• plans should be drawn to provide fair and effective representation and encourage electoral competition;
• plans shall not be drawn to purposely favor or discriminate against any political party or group.


copied from the Redistricting Commission Page, Link above.