[LWVNM Action] Fair Districts update on Redistricting

[Richard Mason]

*Fair Districts For New Mexico (FDNM) Summary of the Redistricting Session
  updated 12/26/21*

Below was the request of FDNM to the Legislature concerning the special
session on redistricting:

A.    Select the Citizen Redistricting Committee (CRC) maps which best
balance:
        compliance with the Voting Rights Act; freedom from partisan
gerrymandering; protection of
        communities of interest; adherence to governmental boundaries
including Tribal boundaries; and no
        favoring incumbents.

B.     If the Legislature amends the maps sent to them by the CRC they
should provide detailed

         explanation of why they amended the maps. This should be any
changes made to maps since the

         maps could not legally be amended. (We were told by the Senate
leadership to file an IPRA request. To paraphrase journalist Gwyneth
Doland, - that’s a hard no)

C.     During the Special Session on Redistricting all legislative meetings
should follow the

          letter and spirit of the Open Meetings Act. The public’s business
should be conducted in

          full public view. The actions of the public bodies should be
taken openly and all

          deliberations made open to the public.


*Note: Throughout the cycle from the New Mexico First Task Force in 2020,
the passing of the Redistricting Act in 2021, the appointments to the CRC
and throughout the CRC process, Fair Districts for New Mexico advocated for
and supported the inclusion of Native American voices. CRC Senate Concept
maps A-1 and C-1 both included Native American consensus. We are pleased
that the New Mexico House and Senate final maps include Native American
consensus. Any criticism of the process should not be construed as
criticism of that inclusion.*



*Here is where the redistricting stands at the end of the session – updated
12/26/21*

*HOUSE*

               The House filed all CRC maps for both the House and Public
Education Commission
*  HB8* was based on CRC House map E-1, but incorporated Native American
consensus that had not been reached before the CRC adjourned. HB 8 has
passed both chambers and is on the Governor’s desk.
*HB9* for the Public Education Commission is based on CRC Concept E-!
passed both chambers with minor changes and has been signed by the Governor.
*The House passed SB1* – Congressional Redistricting that come over from
the Senate. It has been signed by the Governor.
*The House passed SB2* – Senate maps that came over from the Senate


*SENATE *The Senate was charged with initiating the legislation for New
Mexico Senate and Congressional maps*. *We are displeased that the Senate
did not file CRC maps for either the NM Senate or Congress. At a minimum*, *the
public had a right to see these introduced.
* SB1 – *Congressional map was written behind closed doors and had to be
revised after resistance from the public. It passed both the Senate and
House and has been signed by the Governor.
*SB2* – Senate District map was also written behind closed doors in the
Democratic caucus and in our analysis was mainly devised for incumbency
protection. In fact, at hearings many legislators said as much. It was
stated that SB2 was based upon CRC Concept C-1 and the sponsors bragged it
contained 68% of CRC Concept C-1. *Note*  both CRC maps A-1 and C-1 had
included Native American consensus.
In Senate Judiciary a substitute for SB2 was proposed that eliminated the
last incumbent pairing, but in the process altered Native American
consensus. Luckily that was overturned with a Senate floor substitute. *SB2
has passed both chambers and is on the desk of the Governor.*
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