Good-Government Groups Blast Redistricting Language

Nick Reisman

Good-government organizations on Friday blasted changes to ballot language by the state Board of Elections that describes an upcoming constitutional amendment to change the state’s redistricting process as “independent” while also charging the language approved is confusing and misleading.

Elections commissioners on Friday approved the language that will go before voters this fall for the redistricting amendment, which won second passage in the Senate and Assembly this past legislative session.

Here is the full ballot language as approved by the BOE:

The proposed amendment to sections 4 and 5 and addition of new section 5-b to Article 3 of the State Constitution revises the redistricting procedure for state legislative and congressional districts. The proposed amendment establishes an independent redistricting commission every 10 years beginning in 2020, with two members appointed by each of the four legislative leaders and two members selected by the eight legislative appointees; prohibits legislators and other elected officials from serving as commissioners; establishes principles to be used in creating districts; requires the commission to hold public hearings on proposed redistricting plans; subjects the commission’s redistricting plan to legislative enactment; provides that the legislature may only amend the redistricting plan according to the established principles if the commission’s plan is rejected twice by the legislature; provides for expedited court review of a challenged redistricting plan; and provides for funding and bipartisan staff to work for the commission. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2014/08/good-government-groups-blast-redistricting-language/