Info on redistricting. I've heard that we may get an extra seat

[eridani]

The following time line was handed out by our County Auditor recently.

Redistricting Worksheet:
2010
11/2 General Election
11/23 Certification of general

2011
2/8 Special Election
4/1 State Must receive U.S. Census data from Feds
4/26 Special Election
5/16 County and local jurisdictions have received census data from state
5/17 Special election
6/6 Candidate filing opens
6/10 candidate filing ends
8/16 primary
8/31 certification of primary
11/8 general election
11/29 certification of general
12/12 week of possible state recounts
12/31 County Auditors should have redistricting plans from the local jurisdictions

2012
1/1 State Redistricting Commission submits state plan to the legislature (44.05.100)
1/8 State Legislature convenes
2/8 Legislature must pass amendments by this date. (44.05.100)
2/10 Probably the earliest date that the plan and amendments will be available (44.05.100)
2/14 special election
4/30 If redistricting Commission fails to submit a plan to the legislature, the Supreme Court will adopt a plan by this date (44.05.100)

[eridani]

1. Also from Sam Reed--

Election Data Services, the premier number-crunchers for reapportionment, is out with a new report that still has Washington picking up a new 10th District -- but it’s close! As in 434th out of 435 House seats! For now, we’re counting this chicken before it’s hatched. This report is based on analysis of fresh population estimates (actual Census numbers are now less than three months away), along with other demographic data. Their study says WA is one of six states poised to gain a single seat, with Florida picking up two new seats and Texas four. Eight states lose a district and poor ole NY and Ohio each shed two districts.
WA population is at 6,756,150, after growing by 92,000 in the past year.

Secretary Reed, whose two-member redistricting team has moved over to the legislative payroll, says he’s pleased that Washington remains the likely recipient of another seat, and additional clout in D.C. We got our 9th District after the 1990 Census and our 8th after the 1980 Census. The actual work of redrawing the boundaries will go to a citizen Redistricting Commission this winter – two Rs, two Ds and a non-voting chair. Legislature has little role and the governor none. Our cool website: http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/redistricting/

Today’s blog post, with link to the Election Data Services news packet:

http://bit.ly/9u3qbz

[seattle_blue]

2. Need some info

I have done much personal research on Washington state initiative 1082 and only ended up more confused. I was wondering if anyone here could give me some advice on how to vote for this. The way it is written I can't make up my mind.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Thank you

[eridani]

3. Try the following link on the WA forum for info on all the initiatives

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=184x18498

Do you need to know more about 1082 than that the corrupt BIAW is backing it? As the slogan says "Good for insurance companies, bad for people."

[quiller4]

5. 1082 would be a gift to the insurance industry that would be paid

for by injured workers. (through denial of legitimate claims primarily) BIAW is the biggest supporter of 1082. That really should tell you something. Every union in the state opposes the initiative. That should tell you even more.

[eridani]

4. Another observation--

Apparently, we are projected to get the 434th seat by just 13,000 additions to our population. We won't know for sure until April, when the census is final. Also apparently, the new 10th would be added in the area of the most growth, south King County and north Pierce, between the current 8th and 9th CDs. It's nice to speculate that without Pierce County, the 8th would likely become Democratic, and that Reichart's home in Auburn might be redistricted into a more conservative 10th CD.

Sarajane Siegfriedt, co-chair
KCD Legislative Action Committee

[eridani]

6. Update from Crosscut

http://crosscut.com/2010/11/12/elections/20350/How-a-new-congressional-district-would-reshape-the-Washington-map/

Washington is likely to get a new congressional district after the 2010 Census. So where would a new Tenth congressional district go?

The only geographically logical place is a district centered on Olympia, now a part of the Third. Adding an district inescapably causes dislocations, but as in this case, offers a chance for improvement in the form of more logically coherent districts.

Population growth in Washington was enough that even with a tenth district, the population per district will rise slightly from 655,000 to 673,000. Unlike in some earlier decades, eastern Washington has grown as well, so both the Fourth (Republican Doc Hastings) and Fifth (Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers) districts have to contract, the Fifth will probably by losing Okanogan and Adams counties to the Fourth, and the Fourth may well lose Klickitat and 117,000 or so people from Yakima to the Third. Sorry, Yakima County, there is no escape from this dislocation.

In turn, the Third (newly elected Republican Jaime Herrara) has to change a lot, having to shed Lewis, Pacific. Wahkiakum, and Thurston, even probably a tip of Cowlitz. So the Third becomes an east-west Columbia River district, more geographically logical than before.

[uppityperson]

7. This is all interesting, thanks for keeping us updated.

[eridani]

8. Do it yourself redistricting tool online

Why should legislatures have all the fun? You too can create a redistricting plan. I heard about this on NPR. It describes an online tool that allows you to draw new districts. The tool apparently incorporates census data and past voting records so estimate political impact as well.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/01/04/tech-report-why-should-state-legislatures/

[eridani]

9. Another free redistricting application

http://www.gardow.com/davebradlee/redistricting/

There are several maps of Washington with 10 CDs on http://www.swingstateproject.com.
That seems to be the hub for user generated redistricting maps.


Another free redistricting application:

http://www.gardow.com/davebradlee/redistricting/

There are several maps of Washington with 10 CDs on http://www.swingstateproject.com.
That seems to be the hub for user generated redistricting maps.

[eridani]

10. Republicans stand to gain in the state legislature

http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics/election/the-42nd-40th-and-39th-legislative-districts-are-all-over-target-for-ideal-population/#ixzz1ACNSPIeo

Washington state is growing, as evidenced by the fact that we'll be receiving a new Congressional district in 2012. And while conventional wisdom holds that a population boom in the "Soviet of Washington" is a boon for Democrats, a closer examination of the actual numbers might prove different.

Broken down by legislative districts, the fastest-growing regions in the Evergreen State are overwhelmingly Republican. Areas where population growth has trailed or stagnated vote overwhelmingly Democrat. What this means is a potential shift of power in Olympia, if not the other Washington, for the 2012 election after redistricting takes place.




The 42nd, 40th and 39th legislative districts are all over target for ideal population

Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office has released a map showing how each of the state’s legislative district are either over or under the idea population size, and by how much.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Weekly has this article that says the most of the fastest-growing districts in the state are strongly Republican-voting districts.

The map shows the 42nd District as having 4,122 people more than the ideal population.
The 40th District has 3,121 people over the ideal.
The 39th District has 9,204 people over the ideal.

The district with the largest number of people under the ideal: 3rd District, which is 15,851 people below the target. That district includes the heart of Spokane.

Click here to see the map (it’s a 7 MB file, so downloading it may take a while).

The map, created last month by the state Redistricting Commission, took the 2010 statewide population estimate by the Office of Financial Management of 6,724,540 people and divided it by the 49 legislative districts. That’s comes out to an ideal population of 137,236 people per district.

The redistricting commission will convene this month to begin redrawing lines on maps.

[eridani]

11. Commentary from a geek friend

That's a weird choice of districts to focus on. The 40th and 42nd are
some of the least affected districts; many other districts are
changing much faster than those.

Top Overpopulated Legislative Districts (most likely to shrink)
2nd LD (+28,777)
18th LD (+25,406)
5th LD (+22,924)
44th LD (+16,059)
16th LD (+16,043)
17th LD (+14,364)
39th LD (+9,204)
8th LD (+8,705)
1st LD (+8,276)
4th LD (+8,059)

Also overpopulated: 25, 41, 31, 13, 20, 45, 42, 40, 49, 47, 22, 10

Top Underpopulated Districts (most likely to grow)
3rd LD (-15,851)
33rd LD (-12,604)
32nd LD (-11,872)
19th LD (-11,468)
28th LD (-11458)
46th LD (-11,159)
14th LD (-10,892)
29th LD (-10,283)
48th LD (-10,195)
27th LD (-9,554)

Also underpopulated: 34, 11, 30, 23, 21, 24, 7, 37, 38, 15, 36, 12,
35, 9, 6, 43, 26

[eridani]

12. Meetings in KIng County starting in May

Please join the King County Districting Committee at an upcoming community meeting about redrawing King County Council districts. The meetings are an opportunity to learn about how population has shifted in King County and to share your ideas and priorities for Council redistricting, which must be done to equalize population following each U.S. Census.

Background Data

Table: District population data (html)

Map: Population by Census block (9MB PDF)

Map: Population change by Census block group (6MB PDF)

The meeting times and locations are:

Monday, May 2, 6:30 p.m.
King County Courthouse
Council Chambers
516 Third Avenue, 10th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104

Thursday, May 5, 6:30 p.m.
Kent-Meridian High School
School Library
10020 SE 256th St
Kent, WA 98030

Wednesday, May 11, 6:30 p.m.
Robert Frost Elementary School
Commons Room
11801 NE 140th St.
Kirkland, WA 98034

As it considers what the new Council district boundaries should look like, the Committee must weigh many factors including city boundaries, natural features, and communities of related and mutual interest. Districts must be compact, contiguous, and composed of economic and geographic units.

After the public has had an opportunity to provide input, the Committee will create draft Council district maps and hold additional public meetings to discuss the plans.

The Districting Committee is only responsible for redrawing King County Council districts. A separate, state Redistricting Commission is responsible for redrawing Legislative and Congressional districts.

Visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/districting for background data and Committee information.

[eridani]

13. More redistricting meetings

For immediate release: May 9, 2011
11-002

REDISTRICTING COMMISSION SCHEDULES PUBLIC FORUMS

Olympia-The Washington State Redistricting Commission is hosting a series of public forums to gather input they will use in redrawing the boundaries of voting districts across the state. The public's input is vital to the process.

"Washington is one of the few states that has opted for a fair, bi-partisan process in redistricting," said Committee chair, Lura Powell. "Our laws help to ensure that redistricting is just, but the only way for fairness to happen in reality is if people weigh in and give us their thoughts and suggestions for what the districts should look like in the end."

Public input becomes all the more critical this year, as Washington gains another seat in Congress, requiring the formation of a 10th Congressional district. The five-member Redistricting Commission has the rest of 2011 to set the new lines for the 10 congressional and 49 legislative districts.

The state has grown by more than 14 percent in the past decade, and nearly all the districts will likely need to gain or lose population to meet the legal redistricting requirements. Several factors play a part in where the boundaries may be drawn, including:
* Each district must have nearly equal numbers of people.
* District boundaries should encompass land areas that adjoin one another and are as compact as possible.
* As closely as possible, district boundaries need to follow local political subdivisions and areas where people share a common interest, such as race or ethnicity.

The first redistricting public forums are scheduled to occur within the next few weeks at the following locations:

* Aberdeen: Tuesday, May 17, Grays Harbor College HUB, 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
* Olympia: Wednesday, May 18, John A. Cherberg Building, 304 15th Ave., Senate Hearing
Room 1
* Vancouver: Thursday, May 19, Hilton Vancouver Hotel, 301 West 6th St, Discovery Ballroom ABC
* Renton: Monday, May 23, Renton, Renton Technical College cafeteria, 3000 NE 4th St.
* Bellevue: Tuesday, May 24, Red Lion Hotel Bellevue, Evergreen Point Room, 11211 Main St.
* Everett: Wednesday, May 25, Everett Community College, Jackson Conference Center, 2000 Tower St.

All forums begin at 6 p.m. with an open house and presentations. Public comment will be heard from 7 to 9 p.m.

TVW, the state's non-profit public affairs television network, will webcast all the forums so that anyone in the state may participate in any forum. Instructions for webcast participation will be available on the Redistricting Commission website before the forums begin. Visit the website at www.redistricting.wa.gov for more information. To request auxiliary aids or services, including translation, for the forums contact Heather Boe at 360-786-0770, or e-mail [e-mail].

Washington voters established the Washington State Redistricting Commission in 1983 to ensure voting boundaries are established through a fair and bi-partisan process. The Commission includes two Democrats and two Republicans as voting members and a non-voting, nonpartisan chair. Democratic appointees to the Commission are Tim Ceis, Seattle; and Dean Foster, Olympia. Republican members are former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, Bellevue; and Tom Huff, Gig Harbor. Lura Powell, from Richland, serves the Commission chair.

###

Contact: Cathy Cochrane, Media Relations, Washington Redistricting Commission, [e-mail], 360-786-0042

[eridani]

14. Preliminary plan to be unveiled in Olympia

http://www.redistricting.wa.gov/assets/pr_083011.pdf