Redistricting was expected to be done this year, but House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski says the state will wait until next year to redraw political boundaries because the 2020 Census numbers will not come in until the fall.
“You can’t start the process of redistricting and map drawing without the numbers that dictates everything and so until we get those numbers we really can’t plot our calendar,” said Stefanski.
Stefanski says usually after the census is taken, they get the numbers in February. He says then a special session would be called to approve new Congressional and state legislative districts.
But Stefanski says Lousiana was the last state to report its numbers.
“Multiple hurricanes hit our state, one that obviously devasted the Calcasieu area, so all of those things around the country I think are factors in why this has been delayed so much,” said Stefanski.
Stefanski says they do expect to receive the Census data in late September.
“At the earliest, It will be Novemberish until we are ready to start having serious discussions about calling ourselves into a special session to accomplish redistricting,” said Stefanski.
Stefanski says they have a year after they receive the numbers to draw up new districts. He says the goal is to get it completed by July 2022 because that’s when qualifying will occur for the 2022 congressional elections.
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