Common Cause Indiana released a virtual training that shows LaPorte residents how to draw new maps for the city council.

A redistricting expert from Common Cause explains how to use publicly available software to change district lines. Common Cause Indiana urges all residents to watch the recording and submit their own maps to the council. You can access the webinar here.

“The city council has great impact on LaPorte residents, and we are empowering them to make their voice heard on how their districts are drawn,” said Julia Vaughn, Executive Director of Common Cause Indiana.  “We want the council to receive several public map submissions to review and debate instead of relying only on behind the scenes discussions with their consultant from Indianapolis.”

Earlier this month, the LaPorte City Council announced plans to redraw its district maps.  Most Indiana cities redrew their districts in 2022 based on 2020 census data, as required by state law, but LaPorte and several other local governments did not.  In 2024, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law requiring all local governments to redraw their maps by June 30, 2025.

The Council hired former Indiana Speaker of the House Brian Bosma and his Indianapolis law firm, Kroger, Gardis and Regas, to redraw the districts. However, after former LaPorte Mayor Leigh Morris and Julia Vaughn, Executive Director of Common Cause Indiana, urged them to do so, the Council agreed to consider publicly submitted maps as well. 

The deadline for public submissions to the LaPorte Clerk Treasurer is Wednesday, May 28th.