The Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission, a bipartisan citizens group formed to advise and offer an alternative to the upcoming redrawing of congressional and legislative district lines by the Indiana General Assembly, has announced a schedule of virtual public hearings to discuss the issue statewide.
According to a news release from the commission, the public meetings will center on several questions: “Should districts emphasize compactness? What about competition – should maps be drawn to encourage political competition?. Should current politicians have the districts drawn around their residences, or should they be drawn ‘incumbent blind?’ And, what are the important communities of interest in Indiana, and how should they be divided, or kept intact, for the new districts?”
Public testimony from the virtual meetings will be distilled into a report to the General Assembly, commission officials said. Legislative leaders have confirmed that the redistricting process will not be completed before the end of the 2021 legislative session in April and will require a special session later in the year.
The schedule is as follows; all times are Eastern Standard unless otherwise noted:
Feb. 24, 7 – 9 p.m. 7th Congressional District
March 3, 7 – 9 p.m. 5th Congressional District
March 6, 2 – 4 p.m. Central, 1st Congressional District
March 10, 7 – 9 p.m. 9th Congressional District
March 13, 3 – 5 p.m. 3rd Congressional District
March 16, 7 – 9 p.m., 6th Congressional District
March 18, 6 – 8 p.m. Central, 8th Congressional District
March 23, 7 – 9 p.m. 4th Congressional District
March 30, 7 – 9 p.m. 2nd Congressional District
Participants can register for the public hearings in advance at www.allinfordemocracy.org.
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