Redistricting of New Mexico has Begun
The Citizen Advisory Committee has begun setting up meetings for Public Hearing on the Redistricting of New Mexico. Congressional, Legislative, and Public Education Commission boundaries will be redrawn and go into effect for the 2022 elections.
BACKGROUND
New Mexico’s congressional and state legislative lines are drawn by the legislature, as a regular statute, subject to gubernatorial veto.
On Mar. 20, 2021, the legislature passed SB 304, which was signed by the Governor on Apr. 6, 2021. It creates an advisory commission to draw federal and state lines, with one member appointed by each legislative leader two who aren’t registered with either major party appointed by the state ethics commission, and one retired state judge or justice serving as chair and appointed by the state ethics commission. Commissioners will be appointed by July 1, 2021; no commissioner will have been, within the last two years, a public official or candidate, a political party officeholder, a lobbyist, a federal legislative or state employee, or the relative of a state or federal officeholder.
The advisory commission would hold at least 6 public meetings before drawing draft plans, and at least 6 afterward, in various regions of the state (with at least one on tribal lands). The plans would be precluded from splitting precincts and from diluting a protected minority’s voting strength; districts would also have to be contiguous, reasonably compact, and attempt to preserve communities of interest. The commission can consider political and geographic bounds, and may seek to preserve the cores of existing districts. The law would preclude the use of partisan data except as necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act, and preclude consideration of candidate addresses except to avoid pairing incumbents.
The commission would draw three plans each for congress and each state legislative house, by Oct. 30, 2021, and deliver them to the legislature with written evaluations. The legislature may then adopt, modify, or ignore any of the commission’s proposals.
For More information please go to: https://www.nmredistricting.org/
CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE
HON. EDWARD L. CHÁVEZ, CHAIR
RYAN CANGIOLOSI, MEMBER
LISA CURTIS, MEMBER
ROBERT RHATIGAN, MEMBER
JOAQUIN SANCHEZ, MEMBER
MICHAEL SANCHEZ, MEMBER
CHRISTOPHER SAUCEDO, MEMBER
Scheduled Public Hearings
CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETING (SANTA FE)
August 2, 2021 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm New Mexico State Capitol
CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETING (LAS VEGAS)
August 5, 2021 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm New Mexico Highlands University, Student Union Building, Governance Room SUB 320
CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETING (ALBUQUERQUE)
August 7, 2021 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm West Mesa High School, Art Theater
CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETING (FARMINGTON)
August 9, 2021 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm San Juan College, Henderson Fine Arts Building, Room 9008
CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETING (ROSWELL)
August 11, 2021 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Eastern New Mexico University, Instructional Technology Center (Roswell)
CITIZEN REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETING (LAS CRUCES)
August 12, 2021 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm New Mexico State University, Corbett Student Union Building, West Ballroom
