Redistricting Commission Committee
A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA TO THE DEKALB COUNTY DELEGATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO COVENE A STUDY COMMITTEE TO EVAUALTE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT REDISTRCTING COMMISSION AS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER LORRAINE COCHRAN-JOHNSON
WHEREAS, the Governing Authority of DeKalb County requests that the DeKalb Delegation of the General Assembly support convening a study committee to evaluate the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission; and,
WHEREAS, every ten years based on the Federal Census data, district boundaries for Federal, State, and Local elected offices are redrawn as necessary to ensure equal representation of a jurisdictional population; and,
WHEREAS, Redistricting is designed to provide the public with an organized understanding of their elected representatives on the Federal, State, and, Local levels and equal opportunity to participate in electing representatives; has become synonymous with political polarization and partiality, and,
WHEREAS, Eight States currently administer Redistricting and Reappointment through an independent Commission; separate of the Governing Authority, and allows the redistricting process to be conducted in an impartial and efficient manner by prioritizing individual community needs, by professionals who represent community interests, and;
WHEREAS, an Independent Redistricting Commission would be committed to drawing district maps in a public and transparent manner that will accurately and fairly represent the residents in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws and procedures, and;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNING AUTHORITY IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AS FOLLOW:
- The Dekalb County Delegation of the General Assembly convene a study committee to evaluate the establishment of an Independent Redistricting Commission to operate all Redistricting and Reappointment requirements of the State of Georgia;
- Review the Attached Exhibit A below – Washington Constitution Article 2 Section 43 for potential options for improvement;
- Review the Attached Exhibit B below – Montana Constitution Article 4 Section 14 for potential options for improvement;
- The Executive Assistant or his designee delivers a copy of this Resolution to each member of the Georgia General Assembly representing a portion of DeKalb County.
ADOPTED by the Board of Commissioners of DeKalb County, this _______ day of _______, 2021. ________ PRESIDING OFFICER Board of Commissioners DeKalb County, Georgia APPROVED by the Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, this _______ day of _______, 2021. _______ MICHAEL L. THURMOND Chief Executive Officer DeKalb County, Georgia ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: _________ BARBARA NORWOOD-SANDERS, CCC VIVIANE H. ERNSTES Clerk to the Board of Commissioners and County Attorney Chief Chief Executive Officer DeKalb County, Georgia
The CONSTITUTION of the STATE OF WASHINGTON ARTICLE II – LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT SECTION 43 – REDISTRICTING
1) In January of each year ending in one, a commission shall be established to provide for the redistricting of state legislative and congressional districts.
2) The commission shall be composed of five members to be selected as follows: The legislative leader of the two largest political parties in each house of the legislature shall appoint one voting member to the commission by January 15th of each year ending in one. By January 31st of each year ending in one, the four appointed members, by an affirmative vote of at least three, shall appoint the remaining member. The fifth member of the commission, who shall be nonvoting, shall act as its chairperson. If any appointing authority fails to make the required appointment by the date established by this subsection, within five days after that date the supreme court shall make the required appointment.
3) No elected official and no person elected to legislate active district, county, or state political party office may serve on the commission. A commission member shall not have been an elected official and shall not have been an elected legislative district, county, or state political party officer within two years of his or her appointment to the commission. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to the office of precinct committee person.
4) The legislature shall enact laws providing for the implementation of this section, to include additional qualifications for commissioners and additional standards to govern the commission. The legislature shall appropriate funds to enable the commission to carry out its duties.
5) Each district shall contain a population, excluding nonresident military personnel, as nearly equal as practicable to the population of any other district. To the extent reasonable, each district shall contain contiguous territory, shall be compact and convenient, and shall be separated from adjoining districts by natural geographic barriers, artificial barriers, or political subdivision boundaries. The commission’s plan shall not provide for a number of legislative districts different than that established by the legislature. The commission’s plan shall not be drawn purposely to favor or discriminate against any political party or group.
6) The commission shall complete redistricting as soon as possible following the federal decennial census, but no later than November 15th of each year ending in one. At least three of the voting members shall approve such a redistricting plan. If three of the voting members of the commission fail to approve a plan within the time limitations provided in this subsection, the supreme court shall adopt a plan by April 30th of the year ending in two in conformance with the standards set forth in subsection (5) of this section.
7) The legislature may amend the redistricting plan but must do so by a two-thirds vote of the legislators elected or appointed to each house of the legislature. Any amendment must have passed both houses by the end of the thirtieth day of the first session convened after the commission has submitted its plan to the legislature. After that day, the plan, with any legislative amendments, constitutes the state districting law.
8) The legislature shall enact laws providing for the reconvening of a commission for the purpose of modifying a districting law adopted under this section. Such reconvening requires a two-thirds vote of the legislators elected or appointed to each house of the legislature. The commission shall conform to the standards prescribed under subsection (5) of this section and any other standards or procedures that the legislature may provide by law. At least three of the voting members shall approve such a modification. Any modification adopted by the commission may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the legislators elected and appointed to each house of the legislature. The state districting law shall include the modifications with amendments, if any.
9) The legislature shall prescribe by law the terms of commission members and the method of filling vacancies on the commission.
10) The supreme court has original jurisdiction to hear and decide all cases involving congressional and legislative redistricting.
11) Legislative and congressional districts may not be changed or established except pursuant to this section. A districting plan and any legislative amendments to the plan are not subject to Article III, section 12 of this Constitution. [AMENDMENT 108, 2016 Senate Joint Resolution No. 8210. Approved November 8, 2016.] https://leg.wa.gov/CodeReviser/Pages/WAConstitution.aspx
The CONSTITUTION of the STATE OF MONTANA ARTICLE V – THE LEGISLATIVE SECTION 14 – DISTRICTING AND APPORTIONMENT
(1) The state shall be divided into as many districts as there are senators and each district shall elect one senator. Each district shall consist of compact and contiguous territory. All districts shall be as nearly equal in population as is practicable.
( 2 ) In the legislative session following ratification of this constitution and thereafter in each session preceding each federal population census, a commission of five citizens, none of whom may be public officials, shall be selected to prepare a plan for redistricting and reapportioning the state into legislative and congressional districts. The majority and minority leaders of the legislature shall each select two commissioners. Within 20 days after their designation, the four commissioners shall select the fifth member, who shall secure as chairman of the commission. If the four members fail to select the fifth member within the time provided, a majority of the supreme court shall select him.
(3) The commission shall submit its plan to the legislature at the first regular session after its appointment or after the census figures are available. Within 30 days after submission, the legislature shall return the plan to the commission with its recommendations. Within 30 days thereafter, the commission shall file its final plan with the secretary of state, and it shall become law. The commission is then dissolved. https://courts.mt.gov/External/library/docs/72constit.pdf