SJR1
A Constitutional Amendment To Amend Constitutional Provisions Concerning Apportionment; And To Create The Arkansas Apportionment Commission.
Last Action (May 1, 2023): Sine Die adjournment
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AI-Generated Summary
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to change the process for redistricting Arkansas legislative seats after each federal decennial census. It replaces the current system, where the Board of Apportionment (comprised of the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General) handles reapportionment, with a new nine-member Arkansas Apportionment Commission. Members of this commission are to be appointed by the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. The commission is tasked with drafting district maps based on specific criteria like population equality, contiguity, and compactness, while explicitly prohibiting the use of political affiliation, past election results, or incumbent residence. The Board of Apportionment retains the authority to approve or reject the commission’s proposed maps. The bill also imposes strict neutrality requirements on commission members, restricts them from participating in politics, and mandates adherence to the Freedom of Information Act. Judicial oversight remains in place to resolve deadlocks or legal challenges to the reapportionment plans.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries would be the general public and voters of Arkansas, as the bill aims to standardize the redistricting process through a non-partisan commission with specific criteria. By explicitly prohibiting the consideration of political data, incumbent residency, and electoral history, the bill intends to reduce partisan gerrymandering. Additionally, the inclusion of members with technical expertise in mathematics, law, and cartography is intended to increase the professional quality of the maps created.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary entities negatively impacted would be the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, who currently hold unilateral control over the drawing of district lines and would see their power shifted to the appointed commission. Additionally, incumbent politicians from both major parties who have historically benefited from districts drawn in a way that protects their seats or favors their political affiliation may be negatively impacted by the shift toward a process that ignores incumbency and past election performance.
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