126 search results for “redistricting”
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House Republican Leaders Defend Proposed Redistricting Maps
Indiana House Republican leaders Wednesday defended the redistricting maps they unveiled this week. The proposed Indiana House district map draws six districts that include two current Republican lawmakers. That includes Rep. Curt Nisly (R-Milford) in a district with Rep. Craig Snow (R-Warsaw); Rep. Doug Gutwein (R-Francesville) in a district with Rep. Don Lehe (R-Brookston); Rep. […]
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Indiana Begins Formal Redistricting Process, Sets Stage For Next Decade Of Hoosier Politics
Indiana’s redistricting is about to get officially underway. At its core, it determines which state House and Senate and Congressional district every Hoosier lives in. And while the process can sometimes seem complex, it will play a major role in determining the state’s political future for the next 10 years. There’s a brighter spotlight on […]
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Indiana Faith Leaders Say Unfair Redistricting Is ‘Sin’
Indiana faith leaders say that Republican lawmakers drawing unfair legislative maps would be “sin.” Gerrymandering, they argue, is “political and theological idolatry.” Leaders in Indiana Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith communities gathered at the Statehouse to make a plea to legislators. Rev. Patrick Burke, from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, didn’t mince words. Indiana’s […]
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Redistricting Reform Group Creates Map Drawing Contest, With Monetary Prizes
Hoosiers have a chance to win money for drawing “fair” legislative district maps. It’s part of a contest by the redistricting reform advocacy group All IN For Democracy. The group argues that the current map-making process – in which state lawmakers draw the lines – produces districts that unfairly favor the majority party. This year, […]
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Reform Advocates Decry House Republicans’ Redistricting Consultant
Redistricting reform advocates aren’t happy about the national Republican lawyer the Indiana House GOP hired to consult on redistricting. The Republican caucus contracted with Washington, D.C. attorney Jason Torchinsky as they prepare to draw new legislative district lines. House Republican leaders point out that redistricting is a complex process, with a web of federal laws […]
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Republican Lawmakers Nix Another Round Of Statewide Hearings On Redistricting
Republican leaders Wednesday threw cold water on calls for another round of public hearings across the state on redistricting once lawmakers unveil proposed legislative maps. Advocates say the public should have time – at least a week or two – to look at the proposals and weigh in when lawmakers gather next month. This year’s […]
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Redistricting Reform Advocates Rally Ahead Of Statehouse Hearing
Redistricting reform advocates rallied outside the Statehouse Wednesday with a clear message for lawmakers – draw competitive legislative maps in an open, transparent way. The rally preceded the final meeting in an initial set of legislative hearings held around the state over the last few days. Marilyn Moran Townsend is a Republican member of the […]
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Indiana House GOP Hires D.C. Republican Lawyer For Redistricting
Indiana House Republicans are working with a national GOP redistricting attorney as they prepare to redraw the state’s legislative district lines. Attorney Jason Torchinsky works with Republicans around the country to coordinate redistricting efforts. He and his law firm have been involved in multiple legal battles, defending GOP-drawn maps and opposing independent redistricting commissions. Indiana […]
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Redistricting Meetings: Lafayette High Schooler Reminds Lawmakers Of His Generation
A series of statewide public hearings on redistricting in Indiana kicked off Friday in Lafayette. Feedback focused on concerns ranging from a lack of competitive districts to voter apathy, but it’s unclear how much direct impact Hoosiers will have as the maps are redrawn. Indiana’s congressional and legislative districts are revisited every 10 years. Attendees of […]
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Redistricting Hearings: Anderson Attendees Want Neighborhoods Kept Together And More Transparency
Lawmakers are holding public meetings Friday and Saturday across the state to get feedback on redistricting – the process every decade of redrawing legislative boundaries. As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, those attending a meeting in Anderson decried political influence on the process and asked for more public input. State Rep. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute) […]
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Citizen Advocates Want More Than Just Initial Redistricting Hearings
Indiana lawmakers will hold hearings around the state Friday and Saturday to gather public feedback on the redistricting process. And advocates say this weekend’s hearings are a good start – but shouldn’t be the end of the conversation. The House and Senate elections committees will hold the meetings around the state, culminating in a hearing […]
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Indiana Democrats Call For Extra Redistricting Hearings So Public Can See Proposed Maps
Indiana Democrats are calling on Republican legislative leaders to hold more public hearings on the state’s redistricting process. In a letter sent Friday to House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) and President Pro Tempore of the Senate Rod Bray (R-Martinsville), House Democratic leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) said the feedback at the scheduled hearings will be of little value, because they’ll take place before new maps are available. “The public […]
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Lawmakers Announce Statewide Hearings For Redistricting Feedback
Hoosier lawmakers will host meetings across the state in early August to solicit public feedback on the state’s redistricting process. The U.S. Constitution requires states redraw district lines for the U.S. House of Representatives, state senates and state houses of representatives, by using population data collected in the decennial census. The meetings, in each of the state’s nine congressional districts, will be grouped geographically. The meetings will be held on Aug. 6, 7 and 11: […]
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Redistricting 101: Who Draws Indiana’s Legislative District Maps, And How
It will still be weeks before Indiana lawmakers can gather to redraw congressional and state legislative district boundaries. That’s because of delays in getting necessary information from the U.S. Census Bureau. But before the process starts, here are some of the basics of redistricting in the Hoosier State: The Indiana Constitution requires the state legislature […]
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Lawmakers Plan To Push Back End Of Session For Delayed Redistricting
Indiana legislative leaders are planning to postpone the official end date of the 2021 session by several months because, they say, of delays around redistricting. The U.S. Census Bureau has said for weeks that the data lawmakers need to redraw district lines will be heavily delayed. And there’s a provision in Indiana law that says […]
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Indiana House Republicans Block Debate On Redistricting Reform
Indiana House Republicans refused to debate a redistricting reform proposal Thursday, using legislative procedure to block an amendment from House Democrats. Democrats have long pushed for an independent commission to draw the state’s legislative district lines. House Republicans used to support that too, until the last few years. Rep. Matt Pierce’s (D-Bloomington) amendment to SB […]
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Citizens Redistricting Commission Hears Frustration Over Divided Counties
A grassroots commission is gathering public input on how Hoosier lawmakers draw legislative districts ahead of 2021 redistricting. As IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports, those in the 6th congressional district say counties are being too broken up to matter to representatives. The Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission, made up of Democrats, Republicans, and non-partisan members, doesn’t have […]
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Republican Legislative Leaders Cast Doubt On Shadow Redistricting Commission
Indiana voter advocacy groups are creating what they’re calling a “shadow” redistricting commission to give Hoosiers an independent contrast when lawmakers redraw legislative district lines next year. Groups like Common Cause Indiana have long called for an independent redistricting commission to draw Indiana’s legislative maps. Taking it out of the hands of lawmakers, they say, […]
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Indiana Senate Democrats Make ‘Last-Ditch’ Call For Redistricting Reform
Indiana Senate Democrats made their “last-ditch” call Tuesday for redistricting reform ahead of lawmakers redrawing legislative district lines in the 2021 session. The minority caucus has unsuccessfully pushed for reforms for more than a decade. While redistricting reform advocates have long called for an independent commission to draw Indiana’s district maps, Senate Democrats acknowledge it’s […]
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Bipartisan Group Takes Last Shot At Redistricting Reform Ahead Of 2021 Maps
Lawmakers and activists gathered at the Indiana Statehouse to support redistricting reform ahead of the new maps drawn in 2021. The bipartisan group promoted two bills for greater transparency in redistricting. Next year, Indiana’s Constitution requires legislators to redraw maps for state and federal voting districts based on population data from the U.S. Census. Senate […]