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:
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Key Info for 2010 Cycle
Website
Primary governing law
Key Info for 2020 Cycle
Primary governing law
Data
Website
The Latest Updates
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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, § 5; Ind. 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, § 5; Ind. 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.
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.
