Indiana
| State website: | None yet |
| 2010-cycle districts: | Congress, State Senate, State House « NEW |
| 2000-cycle districts: | Congress, State Senate, State House |
| Primary governing law: | Ind. Const. art. IV, § 5; Ind. Code § 3-3-2-2 |
Congress: On May 4, 2011, the legislature passed HB 1602, which was signed into law by the governor on May 10, 2011.
State leg.: On May 4, 2011, the legislature passed HB 1601, which was signed into law by the governor on May 10, 2011.
- Institution
Redistricting political control:
Governor State Senate State House Congressional lines R 13 D, 37 R 40 D, 59 R State legislative lines R 13 D, 37 R 40 D, 59 R 2000 cong. lines With control split, the legislature could not agree on a plan, and a Democratic backup commission drew the plan. 2000 state lines D 18 D, 32 R 52 D, 46 R Indiana's state legislative lines are drawn by the state legislature, as a regular statute, subject to gubernatorial veto.
The legislature is also primarily responsible for drawing congressional lines, also as a regular statute, subject to gubernatorial veto. If it fails to pass a plan, authority falls to a five-member backup commission, in place since at least 1969. The majority leader from each legislative house, and the chair of the redistricting committee from each legislative house, are joined by a state legislator nominated by the governor. This backup commission is statutory, and may be altered by the legislature by statute. [Ind. Code § 3-3-2-2]
- Timing
Census data were delivered to Indiana on February 10, 2011.
For state legislative districts, the Indiana constitution sets a deadline of the end of the legislative session after the census; the regular session ended on April 29, 2011. Indiana statutes give the same deadline to the legislature for drawing congressional districts; if the legislature fails to pass a plan by then, the backup commission will have 30 days -- until May 29, 2011 -- to draw lines. [Ind. Const. art. IV, § 5; Ind. Code §§ 3-3-2-1, -2] Candidates must file for congressional and state legislative primary elections by February 24, 2012. [Ind. Code § 3-8-2-4(a)]
Indiana prohibits redrawing state legislative lines mid-decade, before the next Census; state statutes contain similar language that has not yet been officially interpreted. [Ind. Const. art. IV, § 5; Ind. Code § 3-3-2-1; 1995 Op. Atty. Gen. No. 95-1]
- Public input
Early in 2011, the Senate majority leader planned to schedule hearings in communities throughout Indiana to gather public input on redistricting.
- Criteria
Like all states, Indiana must comply with constitutional equal population requirements and with section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
For Indiana's state legislative lines, the state constitution further requires that districts be contiguous. There are no similar requirements for congressional lines. [Ind. Const. art. IV, § 5]
- 2000 cycle
In the 2000 redistricting cycle, the Indiana legislature enacted state legislative plans on May 10, 2001. A congressional plan was also enacted on the same date by a backup commission that had assumed control over the congressional redistricting process. It does not appear that either plan was challenged in court.
- Other state links
Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission
IU-Bloomington Apportionment/Reapportionment in Indiana
Stats Indiana redistricting page
FairVote's approach to IN congressional redistricting
