Connecticut

Redistricting political control:

Primary responsibility for Connecticut's congressional and state legislative lines rests with the state legislature, which may pass a plan on a vote of 2/3 of the members of each legislative chamber. The members of the legislative committee responsible for redistricting are listed here. [Conn. Const. art. III, § 6(a)]

If the legislature fails to pass a plan, those lines will be drawn by a nine-member backup commission, in place since 1976. Each of the four legislative leaders (majority and minority leader in each legislative house) chooses two commissioners, and those eight commissioners choose a ninth, who must be an elector of the state. [Conn. Const. art. III, § 6(b)]

Original jurisdiction to challenge a redistricting plan, or to rectify inaction, in state court is vested with the Connecticut Supreme Court. [Conn. Const. art. III, § 6(d)]

Census data were delivered to Connecticut on March 9, 2011.

The legislature's deadline for producing plans is September 15, 2011. If the legislature fails to pass a plan, the backup commission will be convened, and must provide a plan by November 30, 2011.
[Conn. Const. art. III, § 6(b)-(c)] Candidates must file for congressional and state legislative primary elections by June 15, 2012. [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 153-9-400(a)]

Connecticut prohibits redrawing lines mid-decade, before the next Census. [Conn. Const. art. III, § 6(a)]

Public hearings were held in July. Legislative committee meetings are archived here.

Members of the public can submit proposals by mail, in person, or electronically, by August 31, 2011.

Like all states, Connecticut must comply with constitutional equal population requirements and with section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

For Connecticut's state legislative lines, the state constitution further requires that districts be contiguous, and that state House not divide towns except where necessary to comply with other legal requirements. [Conn. Const. art. III, §§ 3-4; Fonfara v. Reapportionment Comm'n, 222 Conn. 166 (1992)]

In re Petition of Reapportionment Comm'n, No. SC 18907 (Conn. Sup. Ct.): a request that the state supreme court draw lines, based on the failure of the state's backup commission to do so.
     - Petition (Dec. 2, 2011).
          - Grant of extension of time through December 21 (Dec. 6).
     - Memoranda by Republican commissioners, Democratic commissioners (Dec. 21).
     - Scheduling order for special master (Dec. 27).
     - Order directing special master (Jan. 3).
     - Briefs from interested parties
          - Reapportionment Comm'n Democrats (app.), Republicans (app.),
          - Coalition for Minority Representation Statewide, Hartwell.
     - Replies by
          - Reapportionment Comm'n Democrats (app.), Republicans,
          - Coalition for Minority Representation Statewide.
     - Special Master's order, draft report (and appendix) (Jan. 13).
     - Comments by
          - Reapportionment Comm'n Democrats, Republicans,
          - Coalition for Minority Representation Statewide, Durham.
     - Special Master's letter transmitting Jan. 13 plan to court (Jan. 19).
     - Order adopting special master's map (Feb. 10).
The latest: A petition requesting more time was granted; the backup commission had until December 21, but missed this deadline as well. The court appointed a special master, who presented a map to the court on January 19; that map was approved by the court on February 10.

In the 2000 redistricting cycle, Connecticut's legislature could not agree on any plan. The backup commission adopted congressional districts on December 21, 2001; state Senate districts on November 26, 2001; and state House districts on November 30, 2001. It appears that none of the plans were challenged in court.