The once-a-decade redistricting process is underway in New Mexico. The Citizen Redistricting Committee, newly-established under the 2021 , is charged with proposing new maps to the legislature. The group began holding its first set of public meetings this week.
The committee will eventually draft 3-5 plans for the districts being redawn this year, including for the U.S. Congress, the state legislature, and the Public Education Commission. The legislature will then select one map for each body.
Committee chair and retired state supreme court Justice Edward Chavez said at in Santa Fe on Monday, Aug. 2, that public input is key to developing fair maps. 鈥淵ou know what struggles exist in your communities, you know what similar needs you have and why you want to be included in a single district,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut we need to hear from you.鈥�
The committee is holding eight meetings across the state before drafting any plans. You can testify in-person or by Zoom, or submit comments on the .
You can also draw your own district map or one based on what鈥檚 called 鈥渃ommunities of interest鈥� (COI) on the portal. Brian Sanderoff with , said at Monday鈥檚 hearing that those are communities marked by things like shared values, culture, economic status or language.
鈥淪o people could say, 鈥業鈥檓 not an expert, I can鈥檛 draw a statewide plan, but here鈥檚 what I think my community looks like and I鈥檇 appreciate it very much if you don鈥檛 divide it three ways.鈥�,鈥� he said of drawing-up a COI map rather than a full district plan.
Chavez says the data currently available on the portal is outdated, but the 2020 Census data should be released on August 16 and will be available for map-making then.
The next meetings are scheduled Thursday, Aug. 5, in Las Vegas and Saturday, Aug. 7, in Albuquerque. Find the full schedule
The meetings are being as part of the Your New Mexico Government project, a collaboration between 91暗网, New Mexico PBS and the Santa Fe Reporter.
This public service is part of our #YourNMGov project, in collaboration with 91暗网 radio. Support for public media provided by the Thornburg Foundation.
