Redistricting is a process that happens every 10 years in the United States, in order to adjust the number of congressional districts in each state according to population changes. Colorado is going through this process right now, and there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the new maps. Here’s an explanation of how Colorado’s Democratic redistricting process works.
Colorado democratic redistricting commission is made up of 11 members: four Republicans, four Democrats, and three unaffiliated voters. The Colorado Supreme Court selects these commissioners through a nonpartisan process. Once the commissioners are selected, they must hold at least two public hearings in each congressional district in the state.
The goal of the redistricting process is to create districts that are as equal in population as possible. However, there are other factors that must be considered, such as natural boundaries and communities of interest. For example, it would not make sense to split up a city into multiple districts.
The commissioners have until November 15th to finalize the new district maps. If they cannot agree on a plan, then the Colorado Supreme Court will choose the final map.
The process begins with the selection of four commissioners, two from each party. These commissioners are chosen by the state legislature, and they must be Colorado residents who are not elected officials or lobbyists.
The commissioners then select a fifth member, who serves as chairperson, from a list of qualified applicants. This person cannot be affiliated with either political party. The commissioners are tasked with creating new district maps for Colorado’s seven congressional districts. They must do this every ten years after the census is conducted.
The Colorado Constitution requires that the districts be of equal population, as well as being compact and contiguous. The commissioners must also take into account “communities of interest” when creating the maps. These are defined as groups of people who share common social or economic interests, such as those who live in rural areas or who have similar ethnic backgrounds.
The Colorado Supreme Court will review the maps and can make changes to them if they deem necessary. Once the Court approves the maps, they become final.
It is important to note that Colorado is not alone in this process; every state with more than one congressional district must go through a similar process after each census. This ensures that everyone’s vote counts equally, regardless of where they live.
Colorado democratic redistricting process is designed to ensure that the state’s congressional delegation accurately reflects the will of the people. By following these steps, Colorado can be sure that its delegation to Congress accurately represents the state’s population. Thanks for reading.