House has drawn new districts but where is the map?

 

Join us at the Committee Hearing at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 3rd in Room 10 in the State Office Building.

Even for those of us closely monitoring the redistricting process, the release tonight of a map by the House Redistricting Committee is something of a shock. Notice of the hearing was put out Friday afternoon, with a bill number, and no map.  We have been told by the GIS office that the map is completed, but they have been told not to post it on their website until 6:30 pm, which is the last possible time it can be posted to abide by House Rules.

This gives individuals, organizations, and communities who care about how their boundaries are drawn, just 24 hours to evaluate, prepare testimony, and respond at tomorrow's hearing! 

Just last week in the committee, committee members voted on the principles to guide the drawing of maps, including straight party line votes against a number of amendments that would increase the time and opportunity for the public to review the map.  Draw the Line Minnesota strongly advocated for the adoption of principles.  But how meaningful could they have been when a map was finalized less than a week late?  Chair Rep. Sarah Anderson also told other committee members last week that she did not have any idea when a map would be ready -- and dodged questions of whether the committee would be drawing a map as a group. The message was clear: each party was to create their maps behind closed doors and introduce them to the committee.  We are not sure how this reflects the "open, fair redistricting process for all Minnesotans" she promised in March.  

Draw the Line Minnesota has been strongly advocated for an open and transparent process!  This is clearly not it.  We have been advocating for increased public participation.  A 24 hour period to examine the map is clearly not enough.