Redistricting Board Info On Public Testimony, Mapmaking

 There are about seven nascent blog posts battling it out in my brain.  Waiting for them to decide which one I should tackle first.  Too lazy today to try to make them behave.  

So this email from the Redistricting Board is my easy way out.

"Hello Subscribers,

 

In addition to the existing website portal for testimony at: akredistrict.org/map-comment, you may now email testimony to: testimony@akredistrict.org.  Any comments submitted through the portal or the testimony@akredistrict.org address will be included in the next board packet and added to the official record. 

 

NOTE: The Board has announced that oral public testimony will be taken at the beginning and end of every meeting. Following up oral testimony at a meeting with an email is a great way to make sure that board members understand your specific recommendations as they consider map proposals.

 

I hope everyone has had a chance to check out the public mapping tool available now at akredistrict.org/create.  While the board is happy to receive ideas for smaller areas, statewide (40-district) map plans will be prioritized for presentation at the board meeting currently planned for September 17. 

 

If you, or a group you are affiliated with, are planning to present a plan to the Board, please:

• let board staff know in advance so we can work with you to schedule a presentation time on the 17th and address any technical requirements – you can respond to this email or give us a call at (907) 563-0300 (we are planning to give everyone a 30-minute time slot, but that is subject to change depending on how many presentations there are);
• while map drawing, keep in mind the Constitutional criteria of contiguity, compactness, socio-economic integration, and population – see our website athttps://www.akredistrict.org/mapping-criteria for more information on these criteria;
• do include geographic labels that help the Board understand the borders of districts, including names of cities and villages, landmarks, streets, and geographic features such as rivers, lakes, and mountains; BUT
• do not include labels that are related to politics, elections, or demographic information such as incumbent names or addresses, political party membership, voter history, or statistics on voting age population, race, ethnicity, or gender.

 

Please feel free to contact board staff with any additional questions,

 

Juli Lucky

Staff, Alaska Redistricting Board

(907) 563-0300 main office

(907) 251-9295 cell

 

 

Upcoming Board Meetings and Important Dates:

September 7 – 10, 2021: Map Drawing Work Sessions; Discussion and Adoption of Draft Plan(s)

September 11, 2021: Day 30

September 17, 2021: Presentations of Submitted (3rd Party) Plan(s)

September 21, 2021: Discussion and Adoption of Additional Draft Plan(s)

NOTE: the meeting schedule between September 21 and November 9 is being developed

November 10, 2021: Day 90: Adoption of Final Redistricting Plan"