Every ten years following the census, officials are required to redraw our legislative and congressional boundaries to make sure each district has roughly the same amount of people in it so one district doesn’t have more influence than the others. Idahoans need to get involved in Idaho’s redistricting process to deliver fairly drawn political maps so we the people make decisions about who we call to help govern.
History
In 1994, the Idaho legislature established the Independent Redistricting Commission, which is charged with drawing our political boundaries every ten years. The commission is made up of three members of the majority party and three members from the minority party. Any boundary created must be approved by a majority of the commission, requiring bipartisan agreement. The commission’s decisions must be in accordance with rules that prevent them from giving their party or incumbents an undue advantage. These rules ensure the redistricting process isn’t controlled by gerrymandering. It is a system that has worked for decades, reduced the number of costly lawsuits, and is considered a model for other states to follow.
What’s At Stake
Idaho’s new political maps will be used for the next 10 years and beyond, so it’s critical that our redistricting commissioners hear from us. It’s important for Idahoans who value free and fair elections to get involved in the process. When we draw the maps, our communities are represented by leaders who know us and who represent our needs.
We need to ensure fair maps are drawn so that every Idahoan has the right to equal representation, whether you’re from rural or urban Idaho.