A few notes about state House redistricting

JACKSON (Tuesday, March 1, 2011) – As soon as we can, we plan to post a quick overview of the state House redistricting plan – including maps that you can view and possibly download for your review and use. We suggest checking back with our Web site often for the latest news regarding redistricting.

Just to clarify how things will work: The Standing Joint Legislative Committee on Legislative Reapportionment will consider the state House and state Senate redistricting plans. After the joint committee gives its OK, the proposals will head respectively to the House and Senate Elections Committees.

Because we are focusing here solely on the House plan, let’s talk about what happens to that proposal. Once the House plan clears the joint committee and then the House Elections Committee, it will head to the full House for consideration. It’s possible the full House could consider the plan the same day or a day later than the full Elections Committee.

After the full House approves as plan, it will head to the Senate Elections Committee for consideration and then the full Senate for a vote. If the plan clears the Sensate, it will head to the U.S. Department of Justice for final approval.

All times and dates of consideration before the joint committee – which triggers everything – are still unclear.