Kansas' Redistricting
Information

 

Kansas' Redistricting News  

Kansas' Redistricting News (March 14, 2001 - April 29, 2002)

All information below is from early 2001

Kansas� Political Lineup

 

1991

2001

Governor

D

R

State Senate

22R, 18D

30R, 10D

State House

63D, 62R

79R, 46D

US Senators

2R

2R

US Reps

3R, 2D

3R, 1D

Redistricting Deadline

The deadline for legislative redistricting is before the sine die adjournment of the 2002 legislative session. There is no deadline for congressional redistricting.

Who�s in Charge of Redistricting?

The state legislature initially draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. The Governor has veto power over both congressional and legislative.

Districting Principles
 
Principle Congressional State Legis.
Compactness

+

+

Contiguity

+

+

Political subdivisions

+

+

Communities of interest

+

+

Cores of prior districts

+

 

Protect incumbents

 

 --

VRA � 5  

 

+ = required                - = prohibited

Public Access

Public hearings around the state are scheduled for this round of redistricting. The public may submit their own redistricting proposals to the legislature, and redistricting information is readily available to the public online. Proposed Congressional plans are also available online. In addition, the redistricting guidelines adopted by the standing committee prior to the adjournment of the 2001 legislature are available.

Political Landscape

The state legislature is heavily Republican, and will likely have a free hand to redistrict (within the law) as they wish. During the last redistricting, the legislature was fairly evenly split, with Republicans holding a narrow margin in the Senate, and Democrats an even narrower margin in the House. There was also a Democratic Governor. Kansas lost one district after the 1990 census, and Republican incumbents were forced into primaries against one another.

In 2000, with lopsided control of the House and Senate, and a Republican Governor, Republicans have a strong advantage and could make things difficult for the Democrat�s sole U.S. Member Dennis Moore.

There is still a controversy surrounding Kansas' adjustment of the U.S. census figures to exclude certain military personnel and college students. There is also likely to be conflict between urban and rural interests.

Legal Issues

A U.S. district court found the Kansas legislature's congressional plan to be unconstitutional on equal population grounds. The overall population deviation of the legislature's plan was 0.94 percent. The court rejected Kansas' stated desire to maintain county lines within individual congressional districts. A modified plan was adopted by the court with an overall deviation of 0.01 percent (69 people).

Legislation/Reform Efforts

In 1999-2000, legislation was considered that would have amended the Kansas Constitution and lifted the requirement to adjust census figures to exclude nonresident military personnel and students.


Irregularly Shaped District
None.

Kansas� 4 districts generally follow county lines, though none of the districts are composed exclusively of whole counties.

 

Contact Information

Mary Galligan
Kansas Legislative Research Department
Statehouse, 300 SW 10th Room
Room 545-N
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-3181
(785) 296-3824 fax
[email protected]

 

For more information:

National Committee for an Effective Congress' Redistricting Resource: Kansas
-Overview

EMILY's List Congressional Redistricting Report: Kansas
-Overview
-Kansas Redistricting Chronicle

Glossary

Redistricting Provisions 2000

 



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