SENATE MEMORIAL 83

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CREATE AN INTERIM COMMITTEE TO RESEARCH THE CREATION OF A REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

     WHEREAS, redistricting is a political process meant to ensure that all people are fairly represented in government; and

     WHEREAS, the United States constitution, the federal Voting Rights Act and the United States supreme court call for fair elections based on a "one person, one vote" principle; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico state legislature is responsible for redistricting congressional, state legislative, public education commission and public regulation commission districts in the state; and

     WHEREAS, districts at all levels should be drawn for voters to pick their representatives and not the other way around; and

     WHEREAS, redistricting occurs once a decade, following the release of the decennial census data; and

     WHEREAS, redistricting has proved to be a contentious process, which has been unresolved in the legislative process and has had to be settled by the courts in 2001 and 2011; and

     WHEREAS, court cases regarding redistricting have cost the state more than nine million dollars ($9,000,000) in the 2001 and the 2011 litigation cycles combined; and

     WHEREAS, thirteen states, including Arizona, Colorado and California, have commissions responsible for planning state legislative districts; and

     WHEREAS, five states have advisory commissions that advise the legislatures on the appropriate location of state legislative district lines; and

     WHEREAS, five states rely on commissions to draw districts in instances in which their state legislature is unable to agree upon district lines; and

     WHEREAS, the use of a redistricting commission may decrease litigation and related expenses; and

     WHEREAS, a redistricting commission may be less politically divisive and may create a more trustworthy process;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to create an interim committee to study the formation of a redistricting commission; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council.

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