Redistricting panel schedules public hearings

Posted at 3:33 PM on September 9, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton, Redistricting, U.S. House

The State of Minnesota's Special Redistricting panel has scheduled eight public hearings across Minnesota to discuss the redistricting process. The hearings, which start on October 5, will be held in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Cloquet, Bemidji, Moorhead, St. Cloud and Mankato.

The judicial panel scheduled the hearings to gather input on the best way to draw the state's new political boundaries. The court will take over the process in February if Gov. Dayton and the GOP controlled Legislature fail to enact a set of maps into law.

The stakes are huge for politicians and political parties. The new lines will determine the state's eight congressional districts and 201 legislative districts. The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2010 Census data in March. The political boundaries have to be redrawn to ensure equal population in each legislative and congressional district.

One interesting note is that Rochester and other southeastern Minnesota cities are not included on the list.

You can read the order and find out where the hearings will be held here.

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