Every ten years, when the federal government completes the census, all of the boundaries of the legislative districts in Oregon are re-drawn to rebalance and equalize the number of people in each of the districts. The next redistricting will take place in 2011.

 

Responsibilities, deadlines, and criteria for redistricting are described in the Oregon Constitution and in Oregon statute (see http://www.leg.state.or.us/redistricting/home.htm for more info). If the legislature can’t agree on a plan the responsibility for drawing legislative district lines falls to the Secretary of State.

 

ORS 188.010 lists criteria to be used by either the legislature or the Secretary of State in redistricting of both legislative and congressional districts. The criteria to be considered include contiguity, equal population, use of existing geographic or political boundaries, not dividing communities of interest, and connection by transportation links. The criteria also require that no district shall be drawn for the purpose of favoring any political party, incumbent legislator, or other person; and no district shall be drawn for the purpose of diluting the voting strength of any language or ethnic minority group.

 

Currently, the process is political in nature. The legislature is the first stop in process. If a majority vote can be gained in the House and Senate, the process is completed there. If the legislature cannot agree, the process defers to the Secretary of State. Under the current configuration of power, one party will control the whole redistricting process.

 

Dial back to the 2001 redistricting to remember the political impact. The resulting configuration of pie-shaped districts around Multnomah County tipped the majority vote in many districts to one party. That is a key to the current one party control of the legislature.

 

If you are interested in a redistricting system that’s put in the hands of retired judges, rather than the legislature, you should take a look at Initiative Petition 50 that is gathering signatures right now. Go to http://commonsensefororegon.org/measures/2010-circulating-petitions/ to read the proposed initiative. If you support the concept, you can print out an individual, postage paid form to have your name added to the petition.

 

I don’t often agree with the editorial position of the Oregonian, but this says a lot: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/05/help_nonpartisanship_make_the.html