Commission sets local redistricting hearing

SANDPOINT — Citizens are invited to provide their input at a legislative redistricting meeting next Wednesday in Sandpoint. Legislative boundaries are slated to change in the near future, and the six state commissioners charged with the task are seeking advice from residents.

A public hearing with the commission for reapportionment will be held on Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. in the Sandpoint Library located at 1407 Cedar St..

Popularly ridiculed as “gerrymandering,” the legislative redistricting process is one that aims to sustain an individual’s voting power. A special redistricting commission is formed by the Idaho Legislature once every 10 years to redraw legislative districting lines. Without redistricting, Idaho would be in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

The reason being, if one elected official answers to more voters than another, then voters in the more populated area do not have as much voting power.

The goal of legislative redistricting is to draw borders that contain an equal number of voters, which is why the process happens after every census.

There are two different sets of district lines the commission will be recreating: congressional and legislative. Idaho elects officials from two congressional districts who represent Idahoans in Washington, D.C.. Bonner County is located within the western district.

35 smaller legislative districts represent citizens in the Idaho Legislature held in Boise. Bonner County is currently split between two legislative districts, 1 and 7. But that might change after the next redistricting.

Even though the commission tries to avoid splitting counties, sometimes it cannot be avoided because of the population requirements for each district. Currently, the 1st legislative district contains all of Boundary County and a majority of Bonner County. The 1st district begins at the U.S.-Canada border and reaches to the southern border of Bonner County, with the exception of anything east of U.S. 95 after crossing the Long Bridge. That portion of the county is within the 7th district along with the entirety of Shoshone, Clearwater, and Idaho counties.

The public is encouraged to attend in person even though there will be limited seating. People can also stream the meeting at idahoptv.org/shows/idahoinsession. The commission is accepting written comments online. Go to legislature.idaho.gov/redistricting/2021/ and select the “submit written testimony” tab. Citizens also have the option to submit their own maps for the commission’s consideration using the same software that commissioners use. It can be found at the same web address under the “maps” tab. Anyone to speak in person at the meeting is encouraged to supply a written copy of their testimony.