Daniels Signs Indiana Redistricting Plans
By Tyler Millhouse - May 11, 2011Old Congressional Districts
![[Congressional Districts]](images/updates/congress_dist.gif)
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: On Tuesday, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (R) signed the state’s legislative and Congressional redistricting plans, redrawing the state’s 9 Congressional seats, 50 Senate seats and 100 House seats.
The Congressional maps, created by the Republican-controlled legislature, will likely benefit GOP incumbents and weaken Democratic opposition. Most notably, the map seems to place District 2 in Republican hands. Joe Donnelly (D), who currently represents the district, has announced that he will run instead for the US Senate. Some speculate that if a Republican can successfully unseat incumbent Sen. Richard Lugar (R) in a primary, Donnelly might fare better in his bid for the seat.
In addition, the map strengthens Republican representative Todd Young in District 9. The map also appears to leave Districts 1 and 7 strongly Democratic, Districts 3, 4 and 5 strongly Republican, and District 6 Republican-leaning. However, Larry Buschon’s (R) District 8 seat is likely to become more competitive.
The state legislative plan also seems to benefit Republican interests. While some of these changes may be politically motivated, demographic changes have also favored Republicans. Twenty-one of the 30 house districts that lost population are currently controlled by Democrats. Republicans ultimately altered the original bill, redrawing one of the districts which paired two House Democrats. With an existing 37-13 Republican majority in the Indiana State Senate, political changes were less dramatic. No senate incumbents were paired together.
By April 28, both Houses had passed and/or concurred with the redistricting legislation. Daniels signed the bill on Tuesday, May 10 along with 79 other bills passed by the Legislature. Indiana is only the third state to complete its entire redistricting process. Only Iowa and Louisiana completed the process sooner.
New Congressional Districts
![[Congressional Districts]](images/updates/congressional.gif)
What is redistricting?
In order to ensure all Indiana constituents are equally represented, legislators and state officials redraw the state legislative and congressional districts to account for changes in the population that have taken shape over the past decade. This allows for a statewide compliance with the "one-person, one vote" principle, which was established as part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
How often are districts redrawn?
Redistricting takes place every 10 years following the release of newly-accumulated U.S. census data.
Who redraws the districts?
In a few states new districts are drawn by a non-partisan commission and in others it is done by state legislatures.
How do districts determine Indiana's representation at a federal level?
Indiana has nine congressional districts, each represented by one federal legislator in the U.S. Congress.
How can we be sure our new districts will be fair?
Drawing new maps is a long and difficult process. The process of redrawing legislative districts provides that each district contain approximately the same number of citizens. The following standards are expected to be upheld, and public input is critical in ensuring these are met:
Preservation of neighborhoods
Precincts left intact
Preservation of communities of interest
Simply shaped, with rational, logical deviations
Protection of minority voters
Compactness to ensure connection between elected officials and constituents
Time for public review and input on proposals
Respect for county lines
May 2012: First primary elections in newly created districts.
November 2012: First general election in newly created legislative and congressional boundaries.
Source:
http://ballotnews.org/2011/05/11/daniels-signs-indiana-redistricting-plans/