NO MAP YET, BUT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION STILL WANTS INPUT

posted by Andrea Kelly

Arizona's Independent Redistricting Commission wants to hear from you, even though the part of their work most voters are likely interested in — the new map of voting districts — isn't yet available.

The Commission is holding public hearings throughout the state (find the dates and agendas here) to find out what people want to see in the new districts. The idea is to get some feedback before drawing the map, to incorporate those comments into the mapping process, said Ray Bladine, the commission's executive director.

Another round of public hearings will be scheduled this fall a draft of the map is available, Bladine said. The commission then hopes to get the map to the U.S. Justice Department in November. The department must approve the map before the new districts are official.

All of this needs to be finished before the 2012 election.