SAFFORD — Even though Census data has been delayed again, redistricting of congressional, legislative and county boards of supervisor districts must move forward.
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission will be in Graham County this week to get the public’s input on how the public thinks the legislative and congressional and legislative districts should be set.
The commission will meet at the Graham County General Services Building Friday, Aug. 6, from 5-6 p.m.
A satellite location will be at the Greenlee County Courthouse in Clifton, and residents can watch the meeting via the web at https://azgov.webex.com/azgov/j.php?MTID=mc983904e638a5828aa8ed59b410c43d9, using the event number 177 428 5191 and the password 44kG97AU3vv, or listen via phone at 877-309-3457, with the access code 177 428 5191.
There are only two items on the meeting agenda: a presentation on the redistricting process and call for public comment.
The five-member commission has been traveling the state over the past month, explaining the process, with the meeting in Graham County the third to the last in the schedule.
In July, the commission voted to have grid maps — which only use population estimates, not party — ready by Sept. 14. After 23 days of public comment, first drafts of maps will be issued Oct. 30 and, after another 30 days of public comment, final maps ready for approval by Dec. 22.
However, hard data on population will not be available to the commission for some time, with the U.S. Census Bureau recently announcing that “national and state population and demographic components of population change” not being released until December 2021, and “county population and demographic components of population change” not being released until March 2022.
