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

State Summary

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.  But if it fails to pass a plan, authority falls to a five-member backup commission, comprising the majority leader from each house, the chair of the redistricting committee from each house, and a state legislator nominated by the governor.

In the 2020 cycle, the legislature enacted congressional and state legislative plans by passing HB 1581 on Oct. 4, 2021, which was signed into law by the Governor on the same day.

In the 2010 cycle, the legislature enacted a congressional plan (HB 1602) and state legislative plans (HB 1601) on May 4, 2011; both were signed into law by the Governor on May 10, 2011.

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Seats: (projected)

Institution:

Drawn by:

Plan Status:

Party Control:
  Upper House:
  Lower House:
  Governor:

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The Latest Updates

Oct 4, 2021
Indiana Gov. Holcomb signed HB 1581 into law, establishing new state legislative and congressional districts for the next decade.
Oct 1, 2021
The Indiana Senate and House adopted new maps for the state's congressional and state legislative districts. No Democrats voted in favor of the maps which were sent to Gov. Holcomb for final approval.
Sep 23, 2021
The Indiana House passed House Bill No. 1581, approving U.S. Congressional and state House of Representatives redistricting maps.
Sep 14, 2021
The Indiana House Republicans released their proposals for congressional and state House districts. The House will solicit public feedback in the Elections Committee on Sept. 15-16. Final maps must be approved by November 15.
Jul 22, 2021
The legislature announced plans to hold a series of public meetings throughout the state on the redistricting process beginning on Aug. 6, 2021.
Apr 17, 2021
The Indiana state legislature passed House Bill 1372 to extend the end of its current session from Apr. 29 to Nov. 15. The extension was made to accommodate a vote on new redistricting plans.
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Institution

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 the legislature 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

For state legislative districts, the Indiana constitution sets a deadline of the end of the legislative session after the census; the legislative session was held on Jan. 4, 2021 through Apr. 29, 2021.  On Apr. 19, 2021 the legislature passed a bill extending their session to Nov. 15, 2021 in order to accommodate a vote on new districts.  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 to draw lines. [Ind. Const. art. IV, § 5Ind. Code § 3-3-2-1, -2]  Candidates were required to file for congressional and state legislative primary elections by Feb. 4, 2022. [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, § 5Ind. Code § 3-3-2-1; 1995 Op. Atty. Gen. No. 95-1]

Public input

The legislature held public meetings throughout the state on the redistricting process beginning on August 6, 2021.  The legislature offered an online tool for the public to draw and propose district boundaries.

Criteria

Like all states, Indiana must comply with constitutional equal population requirements and abide by the Voting Rights Act and constitutional rules on race.

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]

2020 cycle

In the 2020 cycle, the legislature enacted congressional and state legislative plans by passing HB 1581 on Oct. 4, 2021, which was signed into law by the Governor on the same day.

It does not appear that either plan was challenged in court.

2010 cycle

The Indiana legislature enacted a congressional plan (HB 1602) and state legislative plans (HB 1601) on May 4, 2011; both were signed into law by the Governor on May 10, 2011.

It does not appear that either plan was challenged in court.

2000 cycle

The Indiana legislature enacted state legislative plans (HB 1776) 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.

2020 Indiana Maps Available for Download

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Indiana | 2020
Number of Maps 5
Last Updated Oct 22, 2021
Cycle 2020