The first phase of four phases to draw new lines for Arizona’s congressional and state legislative districts has concluded and the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is now holding meetings for the second phase which adjusts the grid maps of equal populations using six criteria mandated by the Arizona Constitution.
The IRC will hold a series of public meetings with its mapping consultants beginning Friday, Oct. 15, at 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Crescent Hotel, 2620 W. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, AZ. There is free public parking at the location and nearby public transit on Valley Metro routes.
Meetings will continue through the month until the adopted draft maps are approved by the commission. A meeting schedule can be found on the IRC’s web page.
Members of the general public can attend in person and or view the meeting remotely to watch the decision-making process.
The public has been actively engaged in helping the commission determine how the new congressional and legislative districts should look. More than 70 maps have been submitted and more than 1,000 suggestions have been made through online and in-person comments.
With the approval of the adopted draft maps, the commission will begin the third phase of the mapping process: the legally-mandated 30-day public comment period. The commission will hold public hearings throughout the state with dates and locations to be determined.
The fourth phase finalizes the congressional and state legislative district boundaries which is expected to be done in December 2021.