NY's First Redistricting Commission

New York, for the First Time, will use a, New York State Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC), to create the State’s Map-Drawing Process.

The Commission is Required to Create a Plan for the Re-Drawing of the State Legislative and Congressional Districts, and must take into account various State and Federal Constitutional and Statutory Requirements, including:

- Whether the New District Lines would result in the Prohibited Denial or Abridgment of Racial or Language Minority Voting Rights.

- To the extent Practicable, Districts containing as nearly as may be an, Equal Number of Inhabitants.

- Districts must consist of Contiguous Territory and shall be as Compact in Form as Practicable.

- Districts Cannot be Drawn to Discourage Competition, or for the purpose of Favoring or Disfavoring Incumbents.

- The Maintenance of Existing Districts, Pre-Existing Political Subdivisions, including Counties, Cities, Towns, and Communities of Interest.

The 2021 Redistricting Process:

- The lines will be drawn by a Commission Appointed by Democratic and Republican Leaders in the State Legislature rather than by the Legislature itself.

- After a Series of Public Hearings, this Summer and Fall, the Commission will Submit its Proposed Maps to the Legislature.

- Approval of a Redistricting Plan, by the Commission shall require, a Vote in Support by at least Seven Members, of the Ten Members, including at least One Appointed by each of the Legislative Leaders. If No Plan is able to garner Seven Votes prior to the Submission Deadline, the Commission shall Submit the Plan that received the Most Votes to the Legislature, along with a Record of the Votes taken.

- The Commission shall submit its Redistricting Plan to the Legislature, on or before January 1st, 2022, or as soon as Practicable thereafter, but No Later than January 15th, 2022. Legislative Approval of the Redistricting Plan shall Require a Vote of at least Two-Thirds of the Members of both the Senate and the Assembly.

- The Legislature can either Approve the Lines or Reject them.

- If the Legislature fails to Approve the Plan Twice, or the Governor Vetoes the Plan and an Override by the Legislature Fails, the Commission shall be Notified, and within 15 days of the Notification, but No later than February 28th, 2022, a Second Plan shall be Submitted to the Legislature for Approval. Should the Legislature Fail to Approve a Redistricting Plan as Submitted by the Commission, the Legislature shall provide Amendments deemed necessary and, if Approved, Submit such Legislation to the Governor for Action on the Measure.

The Last Step, has Increased Concerns that, with the current Democratic Supermajorities in both Houses, may Unilaterally Draw District Boundaries.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker