Voters could weigh in on Arizona redistricting

PHOENIX — Some lawmakers aren’t giving up on reforming an independent commission tasked with shaping Arizona’s congressional districts.

Two Republican lawmakers are planning to bring up legislation during the next session that would ask voters to reform the redistricting process. Sen. Jeff Dial, of Chandler, says he wants a ballot referral that would expand the five-member Independent Redistricting Commission to nine.

“It’s a great time to have the discussion because we can both see that it’s not a great process, I believe, from my talks to Democrats,” Dial said.

Rep. Warren Petersen of Gilbert will also bring up a ballot referral, the Arizona Capitol Times reported late last week. But Petersen said his proposal will include some provisions used by other states. He is not planning on reprising a previous idea of adding a second independent to the panel.

“Since I ran that, I’ve had several discussions with people about that concept, and I think I’ve actually come up with something better that the citizens of Arizona will support,” Petersen said.

Former House Democratic leader Chad Campbell agreed that something needs to change about the commission’s current makeup. Redistricting should not hinge on gaining the favor of the sole independent on the commission. “You’re putting all the power into one person’s hand,” Campbell said.

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Lawmakers from both parties say talk of reforming redistricting lost momentum as stakeholders waited for a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the matter.

In June, the nation’s highest court rejected a constitutional challenge from Arizona’s GOP lawmakers to the commission that the state’s voters created in 2000.

Scott Freeman, a Republican redistricting commissioner, said reform is needed but that it has to be more than simply adding more people to the panel. Any reforms must have bipartisan support.

“That is perhaps a good thing because I think it would force the commission from day one to try to work with unanimity and consensus in applying the criteria and developing maps,” Freeman said. “Even if there was a bloc of the independents siding with one or the other, you’re going to have to convince someone else to buy in on the map to get anywhere.

“That’s a good thing.”