Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission was a United States Supreme Court in 2015 case where the court upheld the right of Arizona voters to remove the authority to draw election districts from the Arizona State Legislature and vest it in an independent redistricting commission./ Brookings Institute
Opinion Arizona law gives us a more independent redistricting process than most states. But will the public get a bigger say on drawing boundaries this time?
(Editor’s note: Opinion aricles are posted only for purposes of discussion.)
By David Martinez | Arizona Republic
Typically, we think of voting as the biggest opportunity to voice one’s opinion on who should represent us in government. But right now, as we do every 10 years in response to the census, it is the process of redistricting that is underway in Arizona and across the country.
“Redistricting” is the actual redrawing, or creating, of boundaries of legislative and congressional districts, and some city districts – a process that greatly impacts elections.
Arizona is unique because our process is determined by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, meaning the Legislature does not have the final decision. That makes our state’s process extraordinary given the ability for residents to be involved.
The need for fair redistricting is foundational to community health and well-being, including ensuring adequate and equitable funding for programs like nutrition assistance and health care coverage, and elevating voices of communities that have traditionally been marginalized.
Arizona census results clearly indicate that our population and demographics have changed, meaning our current districts will, and should, change. The question is, how will they change?
