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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 23, 2021
Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission Staff Releases Third Congressional Staff Plan
DENVER -- The third congressional staff plan can be viewed or downloaded at https://redistricting.colorado.gov/content/staff-congressional-3.
The congressional staff plan was prepared by nonpartisan staff using 2020 Census Data, public comments and input from the congressional commission, including amendments to the second staff plan.
The plan will be presented virtually to the commission on Sept. 24 at 2:00 p.m. The congressional commission will discuss and recommend amendments to the third staff plan in a virtual work session on Sept. 25. The congressional commission must approve the final plan by Sept. 28.
As stated in the Colorado Constitution, the new congressional districts must:
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Have equal population, justifying each variance, no matter how small, as required by the U.S. Constitution;
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Be composed of contiguous geographic areas;
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Comply with the federal "Voting Rights Act of 1965," as amended;
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Preserve whole communities of interest and whole political subdivisions, such as counties, cities, and towns;
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Be as compact as is reasonably possible; and
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Thereafter, maximize the number of politically competitive districts.
Districts cannot be drawn for the purpose of:
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Protecting incumbents or declared candidates of the U.S. House of Representatives or any political party; or
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Denying or abridging the right of any citizen to vote on account of that person's race or membership in a language minority group, including diluting the impact of that racial or language minority group's electoral influence.
Written public comments will remain open and available through the consideration of final plans. To be adopted, the plan must be voted on and approved by eight of the 12 commissioners, including two unaffiliated commissioners. The plan must be adopted by the commission by Sept. 28 and submitted by nonpartisan legislative staff to the Colorado Supreme Court by Oct. 1.
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