The Washington State Redistricting Commission has received full census data and on Aug. 16 set a schedule of deadlines and meetings in their effort to craft new legislative and congressional district maps.
“After having received the official data from the Census Bureau, we knew it would be important to settle on additional dates that will govern our processes so the public knows what they can expect from their redistricting commission as it moves towards the final deadline,” said Commission Chair Sarah Augustine. “Due to delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the timeline is compressed in a way that leaves us less than three months to develop and publicize draft maps, receive public feedback, and agree on final maps.”
The commission plans to release its proposed legislative district maps on Sept. 21 and its proposed congressional district maps on Sept. 28.
Statewide virtual meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 5 for the legislative and 10 a.m. Oct. 9 for the congressional maps to get feedback.
The deadline to consider third-party map submissions is Oct. 22, and the deadline for the commission to submit final maps to the state Legislature is Nov. 15.
Every 10 years, after a census is taken, states have an opportunity to redraw their legislative and congressional district boundaries based on population changes.
For more information on the virtual meetings, go to www.redistricting.wa.gov/outreach-meetings.
For more information on census data and redistricting, go to www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html.
