Senate adopts rules for drawing districts
Niki Kelly
January 29, 2010
Legislation to establish standards for drawing legislative and congressional districts, as well as a more in-depth study of the issue, easily passed the Senate on Thursday.
Senate Bill 80 sets guidelines for districts such as being as compact and geographically uniform as possible while respecting known community boundaries such as county and precinct lines.
The districts also must protect minority voting rights consistent with Indiana and federal law.
The Indiana Constitution gives the duty of redistricting to the General Assembly, and legislators will receive updated census data for the districts in 2011.
That bill passed 47-1.
"It is guidance for the redistricting process and gives us a starting point for drawing our maps," said. Sen. Connie Lawson, R-Danville.
But Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, said the concepts in the bill are laudable but pointed out that a provision in the bill basically allows lawmakers to ignore them.
That section said "districts may deviate from the standards ... and may satisfy other factors when appropriate."
The Senate separately voted 45-3 to approve a study committee to analyze more permanent change, including amending the constitution so that an independent commission could draw state legislative and congressional district boundaries in the future.
All area senators voted for both bills.
But their success in the Democratic-controlled House remains to be seen.
Speaker Pat Bauer, of South Bend, has said there is not enough time in the short session.
nkelly@jg.net
Edition: Final
Section: Metro
Page: 5C
Dateline: INDIANAPOLIS
Record Number: 1001280447
Copyright (c) 2010 The Journal Gazette