John Krull commentary: Todd Rokita’s odd compulsion
When he was a small boy, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita must have been the kind of kid who had to touch a hot stove multiple times before he figured out it burned. Time and age haven’t taught him much. The Indiana Supreme Court just rejected—for the second time—Rokita “...”
House, Senate leaders announce redistricting session timetable
Proposed congressional and legislative district maps are expected to be made public beginning on Sept. 14, with public testimony scheduled for two days later, the Indiana House and Senate Republican caucuses announced Monday afternoon. According to the joint announcement from the “...”
Citizens redistricting group invites public to propose maps; competition will offer prizes for the best
The Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission, a “mulitpartisan” group formed to advise and offer alternatives to the upcoming redistricting process in the Indiana General Assembly, has announced a public competition in which citizens can draw and submit their own con “...”
John Krull commentary: They won’t listen because they don’t have to
Power, sadly, often responds only to power. That’s the reality of the redistricting process in which the Indiana General Assembly now is engaged. Advocates for responsible and responsive government made many creative suggestions. They have called for lawmakers to establish a pr “...”
Bigger metros, shrinking rural areas: Release of census data sets stage for Indiana’s redistricting
Thursday’s release of the 2020 census data to be used for congressional and legislative redistricting showed Indiana following national trends of the greatest growth in metropolitan areas and lesser growth or population loss in more rural areas. “The country’s population is “...”
Torchinsky hiring comes under fire in redistricting hearing at Statehouse
As a group of about two dozen lawmakers filed into the Indiana House chamber Wednesday afternoon, the script appeared familiar. From Goshen to Sellersburg and six Ivy Tech campuses in between, each of the eight previous public hearings on the 2021 redistricting had played out wit “...”
As lawmakers prepare for final hearing, fair-redistricting advocates rally outside Statehouse
In the final hours before the last of nine public hearings on the upcoming redistricting process, a group of about 80 rallied outside the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday to renew their push for a transparent and nonpartisan redrawing of the state’s congressional and legislativ “...”
Reports: D.C. attorney hired for “legal advice” and help with potential litigation over redistricting
The Indiana House Republican leadership hired the Washington, D.C. firm of attorney Jason Torchinsky (above) in April “to provide legal advice regarding matters related to redistricting and elections,” noting that as his client they “may in the future participat “...”
Message from Elkhart County to legislators: Fair redistricting is the best way to restore voters’ faith
Saturday afternoon’s legislative hearing on redistricting in Elkhart County included more than a few lessons in history — from the origins of gerrymandering two centuries ago to its more sophisticated implementation in the 21st century. As in the seven other hearings “...”
Southern Indiana residents call for compact, competitive districts
Sellersburg, Ind. — Southern Indiana residents told legislators Saturday that they’ve lived with gerrymandered election districts for the past 10 years and they’ve had enough. In a hearing at Ivy Tech Sellersburg, they called for districts that are compact, competitive “...”