Secretary Of State Unveils Redistricting Web Site

Secretary of State Mark Martin has launched a website to share information on the redistricting process about to take place in Arkansas.

Martin makes up one-third of the Arkansas Board of Apportionment with Gov. Mike Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel. The three-member panel, which has a 2-to-1 advantage for Democrats, will redraw legislative districts for the 135 members of the Arkansas General Assembly based on new U.S. Census data.

House districts must have 29,159 residents, while State Senate districts will be comprised of 83,311 citizens.

Martin unveiled a web site – www.arkansasredistricting.org – to allow a forum for receiving public input and to allow citizens to view a wealth of information about the redistricting process.

“Arkansans have a vested interest in how their district lines are drawn and I urge them to share their ideas and concerns,” Martin said. “Time is of the essence and we want to hear from Arkansans on our blog, message board, or at our soon-to-be-scheduled public hearings.”
 
The website highlights the following guidelines for creating new districts:
 
• Equal representation
• Compactness of District
• Contiguity of District
• Preservation of Counties
• Preservation of Communities of Interest
• Preservation of "Cores" of Previous Districts
• Continuity of constituency
• Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act

While the Board of Apportionment will redraw legislative districts, state lawmakers will redefine the Congressional District boundaries.