Arizona's redistricting panel will start redrawing grid maps on Monday

Published: Friday, October 1, 2021 - 3:33pm

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission tasked with redrawing district lines every 10 years will begin in earnest that very process on Monday and Tuesday.

The two days of meetings mark the first time commissioners will make adjustments to grid maps of Arizona’s nine congressional and 30 legislative districts that were adopted in September.

The grid maps divide Arizona into equal parts based on the state’s population. Now other factors will be used, like competitiveness, respect for communities of interest and compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

The commission has held meetings across the state to take feedback from the public, but it’s faced some criticism that Latinos and Native Americans aren’t being heard in that process.

Once draft maps are adopted, they must also hold 30 days of public hearings.