A new set of commissioners is selected for every redistricting. The qualifications for
commissioners and the process for selecting them were both designed to make the IRC politically balanced and fair. They deliberately prevent career politicians and others who are deeply involved in the political process from serving, as that would compromise the impartiality and independence of the Commission.
There is a three-step process for selecting commissioners.
Step One: Application
Anyone can apply to serve on the commission if they meet these requirements:
- Registered Arizona voter
- Registered with the same political party or as an Independent for at least three years immediately prior to appointment
In the previous three years they CANNOT have been:
- Appointed or elected to public office (other than a school board)
- A candidate for public office
- An officer of a political party
- A registered paid lobbyist
- An officer of a candidate’s campaign committee
They must be committed to applying the provisions of the Arizona Constitution regarding redistricting in an honest, independent and impartial fashion and upholding public confidence in the integrity of the redistricting process.
Additionally, commissioners cannot hold an Arizona public office or register as a paid lobbyist for three years after their term expires.
Step Two: Screening
Applications are reviewed and candidates are interviewed by the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments (CACA) selects a pool of 25 qualified candidates—10 Democrats, 10 Republicans, and 5 Independents.
Step Three: Selection
The party leaders in the legislature select four commissioners from the pool created by CACA. The Democratic leaders select two and the Republican leaders select two. They cannot alter or reject the candidate pool. No more than two of the first four commissioners can be from the same county.
The four commissioners selected by the parties are charged with selecting an Independent commissioner, who will serve as the chair. They interview the 5 Independent candidates selected by CACA and choose the final commissioner/chair by majority vote.
To learn more, follow the 2020-21 Selection Process as reported in the AZMirror:
7/13/2020 Application process opens for redistricting commission
8/21/2020 138 apply for redistricting commission, including some notable names
9/17/2020 Commission narrows down list of redistricting applicants
9/15/2020 Putting the 'independent' in the Independent Redistricting Commission Arizona map redistricting
10/22/2020 Bowers picks Tucson developer as first redistricting commissioner
10/29/2020 First Democrat named to Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
10/30/2020 Fann picks Maricopa County businessman as second Republican for redistricting commission
11/05/2020 Former Navajo gaming official is fourth redistricting commissioner
1/12/2021 Redistricting commission will meet to choose independent chair
1/21/2021 Redistricting commission picks Neuberg as independent chair
