Gerrymandering/Redistricting

ANDERSON, IN — Today, several voting rights organizations joined two Anderson, Ind. residents in filing a federal lawsuit against the city’s Common Council for failing to draw new maps before the Dec. 31, 2022 redistricting deadline. 

Today, three organizations who have long worked to protect voting rights in Indianapolis called on the Indianapolis Marion County City County Council to delay a vote on new district maps until additional meetings are held in each township.

Today, Common Cause Indiana released a draft map of new Indianapolis Marion County City County Council districts drawn by its multi-partisan Indianapolis Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) and urged the Council to provide additional opportunity for public comment before finalizing the new map.  The ICRC consists of nine Indianapolis voters:  three Republicans, three Democrats and three individuals who are neither Republican nor Democrat.  Last week, the ICRC spent Tuesday and Wednesday evening online with a mapping expert working to develop a draft map.  It was sent to members of the City Council’s Rules and Public Policy Committee today with the request that it be considered along with the redistricting proposal developed by an outside law firm at the behest of the Council majority. 

Today, Common Cause Indiana announced that they have formed a diverse and politically balanced citizens redistricting commission as an independent alternative to the partisan-controlled process led by the Indianapolis City County Council.

Members of the All IN for Democracy coalition urged state leaders to “rebuild the fabric of democracy” by passing independent redistricting legislation at a lobby day held at the Indiana State Museum and the Indiana Statehouse today.

Today, members of the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) called on leaders of the Indiana Senate to pass maps drawn by citizens as part of the ICRC mapping competition, instead of the maps passed last week by the Indiana House of Representatives.