Colorado’s Different Redistricting Approach

The California coalition working toward redistricting reform has produced an initiative that does not include congressional districts and has no requirement for competitiveness. However a recent bill that passed a Colorado State Senate committee takes an opposite approach. Reported in the Denver Post, SB 198 would add a criteria (ONLY to congressional redistricting) attempting an even distribution of Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters to the bottom of the list of criteria already required, such as meeting constitutional requirements and keeping cities and counties intact.

One thing that is similar to the Voters First initiative is the importance placed on having an open process:

“[Colorado’s SB 198] would also require lawmakers to hold at least 12 public hearings across the state and allow the public to submit redistricting maps and recommendations. The state would set up an Internet-based program that people could use to submit their plans.”

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