SLAY THE DRAGON follows everyday people, outraged by what they see as an attack on the core democratic principle that every person’s vote should count equally. This election year, we’re joining together with grassroots partners to put an end to gerrymandering. Because this issue impacts each state differently, we’ve created a map to help you navigate how gerrymandering affects your state and community. SLAY THE DRAGON arrives on demand April 3.
Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.
Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.
SLAY THE DRAGON follows everyday people, outraged by what they see as an attack on the core democratic principle that every person’s vote should count equally. This election year, we’re joining together with grassroots partners to put an end to gerrymandering. Because this issue impacts each state differently, we’ve created a map to help you navigate how gerrymandering affects your state and community. SLAY THE DRAGON arrives on demand April 3.
Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.
Click on your state in the map above to find out what’s going on and how you can help.
We are partnering with organizations in Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin to support the creation of non-partisan redistricting commissions to protect votes across the country.
What’s going on in Arizona
Process
Independent Redistricting Commission
In Arizona, the Independent Redistricting Commission, adopted in 2000 by citizen initiative, is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative districts. The full guidelines for selection of the five-member commission are outlined in the Arizona Constitution (Art. IV Pt. 2 § 1). In summary, the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments solicits applications and establishes a pool of 25 nominees. From this pool, the party leaders in both legislative chambers each appoint one member; these first four members then appoint the fifth member, an independent who serves as the commission’s chair.
- Arizona is currently accepting applications for the Independent Redistricting Commission through August 20, 2020. Learn more and consider applying here.
Criteria
In addition to the federal requirements of one person, one vote and the Voting Rights Act, Arizona’s state constitution (Art. IV Pt. 2 § 1.14-15) requires that districts be compact, contiguous, preserve communities of interest, respect geographic features and pre-existing political boundaries, and favor competitive districts. There is no protection for incumbent candidates. Party affiliation and voting history cannot be considered in creating maps, but may be used to test them.
Public Input
After releasing draft maps, the Independent Redistricting Commission must provide for a public comment period of at least 30 days, during which time both chambers of the Legislature can make recommendations. In the last cycle, the Independent Redistricting Commission held two rounds of public hearings, with a total of 45 meetings across the state between July and November 2011. The public was invited to comment on draft maps, as well as submit their own. It is likely that similar meetings will be held in 2021.
Additionally, the Arizona Competitive Districts Coalition held a public contest to encourage citizens to create their own Congressional and legislative districts; the winning maps were ultimately presented to the Commission.
Issues
Pitfalls
In the 2011 redistricting cycle, there were issue areas that brought about citizen concern, such as the lack of competitive districts and rural discrimination (all five commissioners came from the two largest urban counties). Additionally, this will be Arizona’s first cycle without the preclearance protections of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which was struck down in the 2013 Supreme Court case Shelby County v. Holder, creating possible concern for communities of color.
Congressional Seats
Based upon a recent estimate of congressional seat changes following the 2020 census, Arizona is estimated to gain one congressional seat following reapportionment.
Census Delays
- State legislative redistricting plan deadline: no statutory deadline
- Congressional redistricting plan deadline: no statutory deadline
The Census Bureau may delay sending population data to states until as late as July 31, 2021. As Arizona has no statutory deadline tied to census data, no formal adjustments are necessary. In fact, because Arizona also has a late primary, it should be able to adhere to a timeline similar to 2011 even with the delay.
History
Although the Independent Redistricting Commission won all litigation in the 2011 redistricting cycle, there was considerable political and legal contention:
- The list of 25 nominees marked the first controversy, leading to resignations, re-examinations, accusations of partisan interference, and a lawsuit.
- Attorney General Tom Horne launched an investigation into the commission over alleged procurement and open meetings violations.
- On November 1, 2011, Arizona’s Senate voted in favor of Governor Jan Brewer’s recommendation to impeach Colleen Mathis, the chairwoman of the commission. The Arizona Supreme Court quickly overruled the decision and reinstated Mathis, citing Brewer’s failure to demonstrate grounds for removal.
- In Harris v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (2016), the Supreme Court upheld the commission’s redistricting plan, finding that deviations from equal population were justified for the purpose of complying with the Voting Rights Act.
- In Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (2015), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of using the Independent Redistricting Commission to draw district lines, instead of the Legislature. The Legislature had brought the case claiming an Elections Clause violation based on the idea that a commission created by ballot initiative unconstitutionally removes the redistricting power from the Arizona State Legislature.
Actions
Participate in the Commission’s public input process:
- Obtain Arizona redistricting data from OpenPrecincts.
- Start to plan out what defines your community – whether it’s a shared economic interest, school districts, or other social or other cultural, historical, or economic interests – and how that can be represented on a map. This will come in handy once the commission starts collecting feedback.
- Use software tools such as Dave's Redistricting App and Districtr to draw district maps showing either (a) what a fair map would look like, or (b) where the community you believe should be better represented is located.
Contacts
Data provided by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project