Background and procedural information:
Providing a process for establishing districts for the election of members of Congress; establishing criteria for creating districts; directing the Department of Legislative Services to hold public hearings and develop up to three congressional districting plans; establishing a temporary Redistricting Advisory Commission and specifying members' qualifications and the duties of the Commission; directing the General Assembly to act on the plan or plans within specified times; etc.
Under the proposed legislation, are single-member districts a requirement or otherwise implied?
No.
Does the proposed legislation provide for Voting Rights Act compliance (e.g. can the commission use voter history information)?
Yes. No districts may be drawn for the purpose of diluting minority voting strength, but no use may be made of political affiliation, registration, polling data, etc. to achieve that purpose.
Under the proposed legislation, how is the commission formed?
9 members, 4 appointed by the governor, 2 by the president of the senate, 2 by speaker of the house; at least 3 must be of the minority party. These members then elect a chair. Members may not have been a member of the general assembly, congress, a candidate for either, an appointed official, campaign manager, or lobbyist. Members must also reflect the geographic, gender and racial or ethnic diversity of the state.
Under the proposed legislation, are competitive districts favored?
Neutral.
Under the proposed legislation, can members of the public submit plans?
Members of the public are encouraged to give input at a series of public meetings and critique the proposed plans, however nowhere does the bill state that a member of the public may produce his own plan.
Does the proposed legislation allow for mid-decade redistricting?
No.