NEW: [FairVote's October 2006 testimony to select NY state Assembly committees - PDF 28k]
Background and procedural information
Assembly bill 6287,
introduced on 3/9/05, would have established an
independent redistricting commission. The primary sponsor was Michael
Ginaris, a
Democrat from Queens. According to his official website, the bill had
20 co-sponsors and was endorsed by all of New York’s leading good
government organizations including Citizens’ Union, NYPIRG, NYU’s
Brennan Center, Common Cause/NY, and the League of Women Voters, as
well as the Working Families Party. The bill ultimately failed.
Under the proposed legislation, are single-member districts a requirement or otherwise implied?
No. However, Art. III § 5 of the constitution requires assembly members
to be elected from single-member districts and Art. III § 4 mandates 50
senatorial districts for 50 senators.
Does the proposed legislation provide for Voting Rights Act compliance (e.g. can the commission use voter history information)?
Yes. There is no prohibition on using historical voter information in drawing districts.
Under the proposed legislation, how is the commission formed?
The bill would create an 8-member (all-appointed) apportionment
nomination committee (“ANC”), which would then choose the 11 member
apportionment commission. The ANC has the responsibility to annually
establish a list of 40 eligible members of the apportionment
commission. The pool must include 15 Democrats, 15 Republicans, and 10
third-party members or independents. Further, the pool must include at
least one member from each of seven geographic regions, and the ANC
must ensure the pool reflects the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity
of the state.
The members of the apportionment commission are appointed from this
pool in the following manner: 2 are appointed by the president of the
senate, 2 are appointed by the speaker of the assembly, 2 are appointed
by the minority leader of the senate, 2 are appointed by the minority
leader of the assembly, and the final 3 members are elected (6 vote
requirement) by the first 8. No more than 4 members can be of the same
political party, and the members serve at the pleasure of the official
who appointed them.
Under the proposed legislation, are competitive districts favored?
Yes. Districts may not be drawn to favor or oppose any political party,
and, to the extent practicable without significantly undermining the
other important factors, must be drawn to encourage competitive
districts.
Under the proposed legislation, can members of the public submit plans?
Possibly. There is no specific prohibition on the use of plans
submitted by the public, and the commission is granted broad authority
in gathering information needed to draw the plans.
Does the proposed legislation allow for mid-decade redistricting?
No. Plans can only be submitted to the legislature in years ending in 1.