The legislature allowed the first deadline of the decennial redistricting process to pass without action on September 1. Every 10 years, in conjunction with a new U.S. census, Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ must redraw maps for representatives to the United States House of Representatives, the Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ House of Representatives and the Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ Senate.
This year, redistricting is complicated by two factors: A delay in census data due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the new process for drawing maps after voters overwhelmingly approved Ë¿¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ Issue 1 in 2015 (state legislature) and 2018 (congressional maps). The new process requires more transparency and allows a larger voice for the minority party, although a simple majority can implement new maps that remain in place for four years instead of 10 without much input from the minority party.
September 15 is the deadline for a state legislative map to be approved by the redistricting commission and moved forward to the full legislature for approval. In order for a 10-year map to go into effect, a map must be approved by three-fifths of the legislature (including at least half of the minority caucus) by September 30. The deadline for Congressional districts is September 30 and requires a three-fifth vote for a 10-year map.