STATEHOUSE (Jan. 28, 2010) - Lawmakers today approved Senate Republicans' sweeping redistricting reforms establishing objective guidelines for creating legislative and congressional districts after the 2010 census and requiring an in-depth bipartisan review of redistricting best practices used by other states.
                                                                       
"This legislation outlines objective principles to help guide lawmakers while crafting new legislative and congressional districts next session and beyond," said Sen. Marlin Stutzman (R-Howe), who voted in support of the legislation.

Stutzman said Senate Bill 80, which passed by a vote of 47-1, will require lawmakers to consider the following factors when drawing future districts:

Preservation of traditional neighborhoods;

Preservation of local communities of interests;

Protection of minority voting rights;

Simply-shaped, compact districts; and

Respect for county and precinct lines.

Senators also voted 45-3 to approve legislation creating an in-depth bipartisan study of best practices of other states. Senate Bill 136, also supported by Stutzman, would establish the Redistricting Study Committee and task the panel with examining ways to improve the redistricting process including proposals to establish an independent commission to draw legislative and congressional district boundaries.

"It is important we create a forum for open and informed discussions on how Indiana could best draw legislative districts," Stutzman said. "This committee will also create an opportunity for lawmakers to learn about success stories of other states' redistricting efforts. A constitutional commission would be necessary to move to an independent commission."

SB 80 and SB 136 now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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