Legislative map drawing underway in Florida

3 years ago 285

Legislators reappraisal redistricting maps connected the House floor.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers person begun the once-a-decade process of redrawing their ain territory boundaries, arsenic good arsenic those of Congress.

Two cardinal much residents got the authorities an further legislature territory that volition apt beryllium successful Central Florida.

From 2010 to 2020, 13 Florida counties grew much than 20%, portion 17 mislaid population.

“Districts, wherever feasible, volition utilize existing governmental and geographic boundaries,” said authorities Rep. Tyler Siros.

Redistricting has ne'er been easy.

Then-Republican person Bill James said this successful 1982: “The existing strategy has been much acrophobic with protecting incumbents than successful protecting the rights of the citizens of Florida.”

Even erstwhile Gov. Bob Graham likened it to run connected oneself.

“Reapportionment is simply a batch similar doing open-heart country connected yourself. It’s a precise hard governmental occupation for the Legislature,” said Graham successful 1982.

Back then, maps were drawn by hand.

Now, residents person entree to the aforesaid map-making tools arsenic lawmakers.

Sixty-three percent of those who voted successful 2010 approved the Fair District Amendments providing guidance connected however redistricting indispensable beryllium carried out.

After the past representation drafting session, lawmakers admitted they drew maps favoring incumbents.

That’s prohibited by the just districts amendment.

But lawmakers said they present person lawsuit instrumentality telling them what they tin and can’t do.

“So, we person a amended knowing contiguous than the legislature did 10 years agone astir however we instrumentality these standards,” said Siros.

Jonathan Webber of Florida Conservation Voters is taking lawmakers astatine their word.

“The Constitution is highly wide connected what the requirements are of the Legislature during this process, and, I americium looking guardant to them pursuing that. They promised that. They said that,” said Webber.

The Fair Districts Amendments besides necessitate the representation drafting to get done by the extremity of the 60-day session, which starts successful mid-March of 2022.

Read Entire Article