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 Idaho
Process
Independent Redistricting Commission
Idaho’s state legislative and congressional districts are drawn by Idaho’s Citizen Commission for Reapportionment, made up of six members who are evenly balanced between the two major parties. The majority and minority leaders in both legislative chambers, as well as the chairs of the two largest political parties, each select one commission member, keeping geographical diversity in mind.
Criteria
In addition to the federal requirements of one person, one vote and the Voting Rights Act, Idaho’s state constitution (Art. III § 5) requires that state legislative and congressional districts be contiguous and avoid unnecessary county splits. Additionally, Idaho’s state statutes (Stat. 72-1506) further require that districts be compact, preserve communities of interest, and do not protect a party or incumbent.
Public Input
Idaho’s state statutes (Stat. 72-1505) require the commission to hold public meetings in different parts of the state, subject to open meetings laws, and to accept redistricting plans by individuals or organizations. In 2011, the original commission held 14 hearings between June and July, and a new commission held 3 hearings in October. The commission also provided access to an online mapping tool called Maptitude to help citizens draw their own district plans.
Issues
Census Delays
- Draft state legislative and congressional redistricting plans deadline: 90 days after commission is formed, or when the necessary census data are available, whichever is later (Art. III § 2(4))
- Final state legislative and congressional redistricting plans deadline: no statutory deadline
The Census Bureau may delay sending population data to states until as late as July 31, 2021. Idaho’s state constitution automatically adjusts the deadline for completing redistricting based on the receipt of census data, and Idaho has late primary elections, so there is likely to be little to no impact.
History
In the 2011 cycle, the original commission failed to meet its redistricting deadline. A new six-member commission was formed and unanimously adopted a plan. In January 2012, the state Supreme Court struck down that plan in Twin Falls County v. Idaho Commission on Redistricting, finding that it unnecessarily split counties in violation of the state constitution. The second commission was reconvened to create new maps; partisan officials attempted to fire two commissioners, but following litigation up to the state Supreme Court, the commissioners were allowed to keep serving. The commission unanimously adopted new maps on January 27, 2012.
Actions
Participate in the Commission’s public input process.
- Obtain Idaho 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