KINGMAN – Steve Gaynor, President of Fair Maps Arizona (FMA) addressed the Republican Women regarding the IRC (Independent Redistricting Commission) on Monday, June 7, 2021 at their regular meeting.
Gaynor advised the group that Arizona is only one of a few states that use an IRC to redraw its congressional and legislative district maps. The lines are redrawn every 10 years based on data from the recently completed U.S. Census.
According to Gaynor, FMA was founded to help ensure the IRC draws maps in 2021 that comply with the Arizona Constitution and are fair to all Arizonans. He stated FMA is dedicated to educating Arizonans about the IRC process; and to encouraging participation in the process.
The Arizona State Constitution requires the commissioners – two Republicans, two Democrats and an independent chairperson – to start from scratch rather than redraw existing districts. A new Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission was appointed in January 2021 to adopt new congressional and legislative districts for Arizona.
Among other things, the district lines must comply with the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act; and, as well, respect communities of interest to the extent practicable. “A community of interest is what the community thinks is community of interest,” said Gaynor.
Gaynor stated after the 2010 census the commission drew district boundaries that broke apart Arizona cities, towns and counties. He said the districts changed from five Republicans and three Democrats to four Republicans and five Democrats.
He further said that the Commission will start drawing maps based on population and then have meetings around the state. Gaynor stressed the importance of the public being involved and to advocate for community of interest directly to the IRC as well as elected leaders who are involved in the process.
Each time the maps are redrawn, the IRC’s actions have been the subject of extensive litigation that has had to be resolved by either the Arizona Supreme Court or the United States Supreme Court.
He advised the group that it is important to build a war chest, prepare, educate, research, communicate and organize. “Testimony to the IRC is important because if it goes before a court, the IRC must have evidence of what they did,” Gaynor stated. Gaynor urged the group to get involved by signing up for emails from FMA, volunteer to be a witness and to donate. The website for FMA is www.fairmapsarizona.org and the website for the IRC is www.irc.az.gov
