Maps prioritize keeping communities of interest together, emphasize use of public feedback
STATEHOUSE (Sept. 21, 2021) — Indiana Senate Republicans today unveiled draft state Senate maps as part of the General Assembly's ongoing redistricting process. Indiana is required by state and federal law to redraw Indiana's legislative and congressional maps following the nationwide census every 10 years.
"I'm very pleased with the work done to produce the new Senate district maps we are proposing," President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) said. "We have prioritized keeping communities of interest together and drawing districts that make sense for the Hoosiers who live there, while maintaining nearly equal populations in each district. In addition, we took the public feedback we gathered during our statewide listening tour and were able to implement a number of the suggestions Hoosier citizens made."
Highlights of proposed Indiana Senate maps
"We repeatedly heard in our listening tour across the state that the public wants communities of interest kept together, and that is what we have aspired to do as we drew these maps," bill sponsor State Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) said. "With more than 90% of cities, towns and townships kept whole, I believe we have honored that request while navigating the competing interests that inevitably exist when you undertake a project of this magnitude."
To view the initial draft of the Indiana Senate districts and the most current draft of the Indiana Congressional districts, click here.
Tentative Senate Timeline
House Bill 1581, the bill containing the draft Congressional and Indiana House of Representative district maps, is expected to be heard on second reading in the House of Representatives Wednesday, Sept. 22. At that time, bill author State Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon) has agreed to offer an amendment containing the draft Senate map.
State Sen. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute), chair of the Senate Committee on Elections, plans to host a public meeting of the committee to gather public feedback on HB 1581 at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27 in the Senate Chamber of the Statehouse, located in downtown Indianapolis. The committee is expected to meet again Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. in the Senate Chamber for an amend-and-vote-only meeting. The full Senate is expected to meet at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 30 and at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 for second and third reading, respectively. The House of Representatives is holding Oct. 1 as a possible session date if further legislative action is needed. Senate committee and session meeting details will be posted online at iga.in.gov.
"We have said all along that public input is an important part of the redistricting process," Ford said. "We saw a great turnout from the public during the committee meetings in the House of Representatives last week, and we hope to hear additional feedback Monday in our committee meeting when we discuss our proposed new Senate districts."
More Background
In early August, legislators hosted public meetings in Indiana's nine congressional districts to gather feedback from the public on Indiana's redistricting process. Archived videos of the meetings are available at iga.in.gov/redistricting.
The General Assembly also launched an online portal that allows Hoosiers to draw and submit their proposed new district boundaries for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana Senate. The portal is now live and available online at iga.in.gov/redistricting. The web portal contains all the same census and election data lawmakers have access to as they draw the new Statehouse and congressional district maps.
Constituents can continue to contact their legislators anytime to share comments on the redistricting process. Hoosiers can look up their state legislators by visiting iga.in.gov and clicking on "Find Your Legislator."
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High-resolution photos of members of the Indiana Senate Republican Caucus, click here.
