Mapping tool lets people show communities of interest to IRC
"When redistricting commissioners begin their statewide tour on Friday, Arizonans will be able to not only tell them about their communities of interest but show them as well. The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission created a tool that’s available on its website that allows people to map out their communities of interest.
The mapping tool is part of a survey that the commission is asking people to fill out to provide public input on what they’d like to see from the redistricting process.
Communities of interest are any grouping of people with shared interests, identities, concerns or needs. It’s a broad term that can include myriad groups — a specific neighborhood or region, a collection of people who work for the same company or industry, people who use a particular transportation corridor, people who send their children to the same school, or people who rely on a particular service.
Respecting communities of interest is one of the six criteria in the Arizona Constitution that the IRC must follow when drawing congressional and legislative districts, and because it is such a wide-ranging term that is subject to so much interpretation, it can be one of the trickiest requirements the commission faces.
INSERT: Community of Interest Survey
Below are links to the irc's Community of Interest Survey which will be utilized to solicit public comment on The Commission's Listening tour
Whether you chose to participate at one of our public hearings or from the convience of your home, the community of interest survey is the best way to let the Commission know about what is important to your community and how you are represented.
This survey will reamin active until Tuesday, August 10th 2021 at 5:00pm MST and 6:00pm MDT.
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The IRC created the survey for people to fill out in preparation for its upcoming listening tour, which will see the commission hold 15 meetings across the state over 17 days to receive public input before it begins drawing new districts.
HERE IN MESA AUGUST 9, 2021
| Monday, August 9, 2021 | 5:00pm | Mesa Convention Center - Superstition Ballroom 263 N. Center St. Mesa, AZ 85201 | Agenda Presentation | Submit Public Comments | Watch Live |
Listening Tour- Round 1
Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission Seeking Public Input
On New Legislative and Congressional District Boundaries
Arizona's Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) invites residents to participate in its first round of statewide public hearings beginning July 23 and continuing through August 9, 2021. Information will be presented both in person and virtually about the redrawing of Arizona’s congressional and legislative districts. Public comment received during these meetings will be used by the IRC to help inform the drawing of new district boundaries. Commission Chair Erika Neuberg urges all Arizonans to attend one of these important hearings to ensure their voices will be heard.
Over the next few months the Commission will be making decisions about Arizonans’ future voting districts. Voting districts determine what district a resident will vote in for representation in the United States Congress and the Arizona State Legislature. Redistricting is necessary as it takes into account any population changes from the last ten years and creates districts of equal population.
Arizona voters passed Proposition 106 in the 2000 General Election, amending the Arizona Constitution to create a five-member commission to redraw congressional and legislative district boundaries based upon 2020 census data. The IRC is made up of two Democrats, two Republicans and an independent Chair elected by the other commissioners. The chair must not be a member of either party already represented on the Commission. Proposition 106 replaced the old process in which the State Legislature established the districts.
One of the goals of the IRC public hearings is to solicit public input about communities of interest. There are forms available at the public hearings, and or on the IRC website that can be used to define an area that you feel should be considered a community of interest.
Persons with a disability may request reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting Valerie Neumann at ircadmin@azdoa.gov (link sends e-mail). Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.
Public Hearing Schedule
Satellite locations are intended to offer individuals in different parts of a region a more convenient location to participate in these public hearings. This schedule is subject to change.
The Independent Redistricting Commission's mission is to redraw Arizona’s congressional and legislative districts to reflect the results of the most recent census. The concept of one-person, one-vote dictates that districts should be roughly equal in population. Other factors to be considered are the federal Voting Rights Act, district shape, geographical features, respect for communities of interest and potential competitiveness. The state Constitution requires the commissioners – two Republicans, two Democrats and an independent chairperson – to start from scratch rather than redraw existing districts.
A new Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission was appointed in January 2021 to adopt new congressional and legislative districts for Arizona. This comprehensive website is being used to inform the public about its work.
The Commission is providing this notice regarding the physical and electronic locations where all public notices regarding public meetings are posted. The Commission posts all public notices and agendas, on the Arizona Public Meetings website at https://publicmeetings.az.gov the Arizona Department of Administration, 100 N 15th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
Public Meetings
Competition under Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission
November 08, 2016
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