Support a state redistricting process and standards that promote fair and effective representation in the state legislature and in the U.S. House of Representatives with maximum opportunity for public scrutiny.
Adopted February 2001
1. Support of an independent, non-partisan commission with broad-based community, civic, and minority representation as the preferred redistricting body. The redistricting process, regardless of who has responsibility for redistricting, should include:
ii. automatic court action if the plan is not completed on time (the plan including appeals must be in place 30 days before the deadline for candidate declarations to run for office);
ii. public hearings in a variety of locations around the state during the process (one suggestion was to hold at least 3 meetings in each congressional district);
iii. information concerning redistricting should also be widely disseminated to the public by means of all available media, the internet/web, libraries and so on;
iv. wide dissemination of the final plan both in print (at municipal offices and libraries) and in electronic form with notices concerning availability in all media;
c. the requirement that changes to the plan proposed by the redistricting body or approval of the plan must be by a 2/3s vote of the legislative body;
d. appeal of the final plan should be allowed for the Attorney General, non-profit groups, individual citizens, municipalities, and civic groups
2. The standards on which a redistricting plan is based, regardless of who has responsibility for redistricting,
ii. geographic contiguity;
iii. protection from diluting the voting strength of a racial or linguistic minority;
b. should prohibit the consideration of:
ii. previous election results;
c. to the extent possible, standards should also include:
ii. census boundaries;
iii. consideration of geographic boundaries particularly where they would be an impediment to travel within a district.
