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Prof. Justin Levitt's Doug Spencer's Guide to Drawing the Electoral Lines

State Summary

Alaska has only one congressional district.  The state uses an independent commission to draw state legislative districts.  The first four commissioners were appointed by the Governor and legislative leadership in late July 2020, and on Aug. 6, 2020, the Chief Justice selected the final member of the commission for the cycle.  The commission includes three Republicans and two voters with undeclared party preferences.

In the 2020 cycle, the commission issued legislative maps on Nov. 10, 2021, but the maps were rejected by the state Supreme Court.  On Apr. 13, 2022, the commission issued a revised plan, but that plan was also rejected by the courts; the courts ordered the use of another plan prepared by the commission as an interim plan for the 2022 elections only.  On May 15, 2023, the commission adopted that interim plan as the final plan for the decade.

In the 2010 cycle, the commission issued its legislative maps on June 13, 2011; the maps were precleared on Oct. 11, 2011, but rejected by the courts.  The commission issued a new plan on Apr. 5, 2011 that was precleared on June 27, 2012; that plan was rejected by the courts going forward but approved for interim use for the 2012 elections only.  The commission issued a third plan on July 14, 2013; court challenges to this final map were rejected.

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Seats: (projected)

Institution:

Drawn by:

Plan Status:

Party Control:
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Key Info for 2000 Cycle

Primary governing law

Key Info for 2010 Cycle

Website

Primary governing law

Key Info for 2020 Cycle

Website

Primary governing law

Data

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The Latest Updates

May 24, 2022
The Alaska state Supreme Court ordered the state to use a new interim map for state Senate elections in 2022.
Apr 13, 2022
The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted an Amended Proclamation of Redistricting after the previous map was remanded back to the board by the state's Supreme Court.
Mar 25, 2022
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled Senate District K and House District 36 violated the state constitution and remanded them back to the Alaska Redistricting Board.
Mar 3, 2022
The Alaska Redistricting Board, the City of Valdez, the City of Skagway and Matanuska-Susitna Borough have petitioned the state supreme court to review the lower courts Feb. 15th decision.
Feb 16, 2022
A state court has remanded the issue back to the Alaska Redistricting Board (ARB). In the decision, the court asked the ARB to take a "hard look" at House Districts 3 and 4 and Senate District K.
Jan 21, 2022
The trial for the consolidated cases (ITMO the 2021 Redistricting Plan) challenging Alaska's new redistricting plans began on Friday Jan. 21, 2022.
Dec 10, 2021
Three more lawsuits have been filed (Wilson, City of Skagway, and City of Valdez)  against the Alaska Redistricting Board challenging the new state legislative maps.
Dec 2, 2021
Matanuska-Susitna Borough filed a lawsuit challenging Alaska's redistricting plan for violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the state constitution.
Nov 10, 2021
The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted a Final Proclamation of Redistricting establishing new legislative maps for the state.
Nov 9, 2021
Alaska's Redistricting Board will meet on Nov. 10th to adopt and sign the Final Proclamation on Redistricting establish new legislative maps for the state.
Nov 5, 2021
The Alaska Redistricting Board approved a final redistricting map for the state legislature. The final and official adoption of the plan is due by Nov. 10.
Oct 26, 2021
The Alaskan Redistricting Board released the public notice for the next public meeting. The meeting will take place on Nov. 2nd.
Oct 7, 2021
The Alaska Redistricting Board has released the public notices for the remaining public hearings, testimony may be  submitted by emailing testimony@akredistrict.org.
Sep 20, 2021
Alaska Redistricting Board adopted six proposed redistricting plans. The board draft version 3 and draft version 4 were included in proposed plans.
Sep 1, 2021
Alaska has launched a public map-drawing tool for the 2021 redistricting process.
Aug 21, 2021
The Alaska Redistricting Board has scheduled it first meetings following the census data release. The meetings will be held on Aug. 23rd and 24th and are open to the public.
Dec 20, 2020
The Alaska Redistricting Board names executive director and other staff.
Aug 6, 2020
Alaska's Chief Justice of the Supreme Court selected the final member to the five-person independent Alaska Redistricting Board.
Jul 30, 2020
Alaska's Speaker of the House has selected a commissioner for the five-person Alaska Redistricting Board.
Jul 29, 2020
Alaska's Senate President selected one member for the five-person Alaska Redistricting Board.
Jul 28, 2020
Alaska's Governor selected two members for the five-person Alaska Redistricting Board.

Institution

Alaska has only one congressional district.

Alaska’s state legislative lines are drawn by a five-member independent commission, in place since 1998.  None of the commissioners may be public officials or employees when they are appointed to serve.  The Governor chooses two commissioners, the state Senate and House majority leaders each choose one, and the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court chooses one; each commissioner must be chosen without regard to party affiliation.  Each commissioner must have lived in Alaska for at least a year, and at least one commissioner must be appointed from each of the state’s judicial districts. [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 8]

For the 2020 cycle, the first four commissioners were appointed by the Governor and legislative leadership in late July 2020.  On Aug. 6, 2020, the Chief Justice selected the final member of the commission, which includes three Republicans and two voters with undeclared party preferences.

Timing

Alaska state law requires that its commission draw initial proposals for state legislative lines within 30 days of the commissioners’ appointment or within 30 days of the delivery of Census data, whichever is later.  The commission then holds hearings on the proposals and makes appropriate adjustments.  Final maps are due 90 days after the commission’s appointment or delivery of the Census data, whichever is later. [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 10]  For the 2020 cycle, because Census data was released on Aug. 12, 2021, the commission was required to draw proposed maps by Sept. 11, 2021 and adopt a final map by Nov. 10, 2021.

The deadline for candidates to file for the state legislative primary elections was June 1, 2022. [Alaska Stat. § 15.25.040]

Alaska prohibits redrawing district lines mid-decade, before the next Census. [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 10]

Public input

Alaska requires public hearings on plan proposals. [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 10]

In the 2020 cycle, the commission held public hearings on plans drafted by the commission and by the public.  The schedule of planned public hearings for the 2020 cycle is available here and public comments on the plans are available here.

In the 2010 redistricting cycle, citizens were entitled to submit proposed maps to the commission, and these proposals were also evaluated at hearings.  Commission meetings from the 2010 cycle are archived here, and the public meetings from that cycle are archived here.

Criteria

Like all states, Alaska must comply with constitutional equal population requirements; state law further demands that state legislative districts be populated as nearly equally as practicable. [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 6In re 2001 Redistricting Cases, 47 P.3d 141, 145-46 (Alaska 2002)]

Alaska must also, like all states, abide by the Voting Rights Act and constitutional rules on race.  Alaska deploys a unique process to accomplish this objective: lines must first be drawn pursuant only to the state criteria below, and only thereafter may districts be adjusted (if necessary) to comply with the Voting Rights Act. [In re 2011 Redistricting Cases, 294 P.3d 1032, 1037-38 (Alaska 2012); In re 2011 Redistricting Cases, 274 P.3d 466, 467-68 (Alaska 2012)]

For its state legislative lines, the Alaska constitution requires that districts be contiguous and compact. [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 6Hickel v. Southeast Conference, 846 P.2d 38, 44-46 (Alaska 1992); In re 2001 Redistricting Cases, 44 P.3d 141, 143 (Alaska 2002)]  Each district must also contain as nearly as practicable a “relatively integrated socio-economic area.” [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 6In re 2001 Redistricting Cases, 47 P.3d 1089, 1091, 1094 (Alaska 2002); In re 2001 Redistricting Cases, 44 P.3d 141, 145-46 (Alaska 2002); Hickel v. Southeast Conference, 846 P.2d 38, 46-47 (Alaska 1992); Kenai Peninsula Borough v. State, 743 P.2d 1352, 1361-65 (Alaska 1987)]  In making these decisions, the commission may consider local government boundaries, and should use “drainage and other geographic features” to describe districts wherever possible. [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 6Kenai Peninsula Borough v. State, 743 P.2d 1352 (Alaska 1987)]  Finally, state legislative districts must be nested, so that one Senate district is composed of two House districts. [Alaska Const. art. VI, § 6]

2020 cycle

Alaska’s commissions issued its legislative maps on Nov. 10, 2021.  The maps were challenged in court, and on Mar. 25, 2022, the state Supreme Court rejected the maps based on the finding of a political gerrymander in Senate District K and a compactness violation in House District 36. [In the Matter of the 2021 Redistricting Cases, No. S-18332 (Alaska Mar. 25, 2022)]

On Apr. 13, 2022, the commission enacted a revised legislative plan which was also challenged.  On May 24, 2022, the state Supreme Court affirmed a finding that the revised Senate plan was also a partisan gerrymander and ordered the use of an interim map for the 2022 elections. [In the Matter of the 2021 Redistricting Cases, 528 P.3d 40 (Alaska 2023)]  On May 15. 2023, the commission adopted this interim plan as its final revised plan for the cycle.

2010 cycle

Alaska’s commission issued its legislative maps on June 13, 2011; the maps were precleared on Oct. 11, 2011.  The maps were challenged in court, and on Mar. 14, 2012, the state Supreme Court rejected the maps based on the state’s unique process: the commission had not first drawn a map considering only state criteria, before adjusting the map (if necessary) to comply with the Voting Rights Act. [In re 2011 Redistricting Cases, 274 P.3d 466 (Alaska 2012)]

The commission issued a new plan on Apr. 5, 2011; a trial court rejected that plan on Apr. 20, 2011, but on May 22, 2011, the state Supreme Court approved the plan for interim use in 2012, expressing concern that it would be difficult to redraw the plan in time to have it precleared.  The interim plan was precleared on June 27, 2012. [In re 2011 Redistricting Cases, 282 P.3d 306 (Alaska 2012)]

That Apr. 5 plan was ultimately rejected on Dec. 28, 2011, by the state Supreme Court for failure to abide by the state’s unique process, and returned to the commission once again.  The commission issued a third plan on July 14, 2013.  Court challenges to this latter map were not successful. [In re 2011 Redistricting Cases, Case No. 4FA-11-2209CI, 2013 WL 6074059 (Alaska Super. Ct., Fairbanks N. Star Borough Nov. 18, 2013)]

2000 cycle

Alaska’s commission first drew lines that were struck down by the state Supreme Court, largely on compactness and equal population grounds. [In re 2001 Redistricting Cases, 44 P.3d 141 (Alaska 2002)]

The commission approved a second plan on Apr. 25, 2002, which was upheld by the state Supreme Court, and precleared on June 11, 2002. [In re 2001 Redistricting Cases, 47 P.3d 1089 (Alaska 2002)]

Redistricting Cases in Alaska

Search all Alaska Cases >

Alaska | State Upper | State Lower
In the Matter of the 2021 Redistricting Cases (was Wilson v. Alaska Redistricting Bd.)
State court struck state legislative maps: partisan gerrymandering
Last Updated May 17, 2023
Case No. 3AN-21-08869CI (Alaska Super. Ct.); Nos. S-18275, S-18303, S-18328, S-18329, S-18330, S-18332, S-18419 (Alaska Sup. Ct.)
Cycle 2020
Alaska | State Upper | State Lower
Matanuska-Susitna Borough v. Alaska Redistricting Board
(consolidated) State court challenge to state legislative maps: alleged malapportionment, violations of state constitution
Last Updated Dec 15, 2021
Case Nos. 3PA-21-02397CI, 3AN-21-08869CI (Alaska Super. Ct.)
Cycle 2020
Alaska | State Upper | State Lower
City of Valdez v. Alaska Redistricting Board
(consolidated) State court challenge to state legislative maps: alleged violations of state constitution
Last Updated Dec 15, 2021
Case Nos. 3VA-21-00080CI, 3AN-21-08869CI (Alaska Super. Ct.)
Cycle 2020