Redistricting in America

The heated partisan controversy regarding the redrawing of Maine’s two U.S. Congressional districts was brought to an end on September 27th when the Maine House of Representatives approved a compromise redistricting plan.This plan – the Kennebec County Plan, which passed 140-3 in the House – leaves most of the state untouched – with the exception of the districts in Kennebec County. In accordance with legal guidelines, the plan divides population evenly between the two districts in Kennebec County (the only county split, which was also fragmented in the 2000 redistricting plan), and leaves all towns intact. The Senate unanimously approved the plan later in the day.

Continued...

While one might assume that redistricting would be easier in a state with only two congressional districts, the controversy currently surrounding redistricting in Maine proves that such an assumption is far from safe.

In Maine, both congressional and state legislative redistricting begin in the Advisory Apportionment Commission. This is a hybrid model encompassing both private citizens and public officials. Both the speaker of the state House of Representatives and the House minority leader appoint three members of the legislature, and Senate majority and minority leaders appoint two legislators each. Finally, the state chairpersons of each major party (or their private citizen designees) join. Each party’s six members on the commission appoint a private citizen; the two private citizens then choose a third member of the public, rounding out the commission at 15 members.

Continued...

Even though a Democratic-backed plan to redraw Maine's congressional district line has won a bipartisan advisory panel's support, Republicans say they may use their legislative muscle to push through a more radical plan. But a GOP leader said Wednesday he'd like to avoid that route, which would likely provoke a Democratic lawsuit, and expects the two sides will resume negotiations leading to a consensus plan before the Legislature meets Sept. 27 to take up the matter.

Continued...

Republicans and Democrats continue to offer competing proposals for redrawing the lines of Maine’s two congressional districts, even with a vote expected today by the panel that will make recommendations to the Legislature. Democrats today issued their third proposal, redistributing towns in Kennebec County to create districts with a population difference of one. Similar proposals offered earlier by Democrats called for population differences of 11 people and three people.

Continued...

Maine's population grew by 4.2 percent over the past decade, outpacing the Northeast growth rate by a full percent. That's according to new Census figures released today.

Continued...