Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override the governor's veto and pass a bill that establishes an independent redistricting commission to eliminate partisan gerrymandering.

Highlights:

• Establishes an independent redistricting commission, to convene no later than July 1 every 10 years beginning in 2021, in order to (Chapter 662-B:1):

• Conduct an open and transparent process enabling full public consideration of and comment on the drawing of district lines;

• Draw district lines according to the redistricting criteria specified in this chapter; and

• Conduct its business with integrity and fairness.

• Requires an individual to be eligible for appointment to the commission if the individual has registered as a voter in New Hampshire, and has been a member of the same political party or with no political party since the previous statewide election (Chapter 662-B:2).

• Requires each commission member to have voted in two of the last three statewide general elections immediately preceding his or her application for appointment to the commission (Chapter 662-B:2).

• Prohibits an individual to be eligible to serve as a member of the commission if, at any point during the 4 years prior to submitting an application for appointment to the commission, the individual (Chapter 662-B:2):

• Has been a candidate for, or elected to, any federal, state, or country elective public office;

• Served as an officer, or employee of, or consultant to, a major political party or a campaign committee of a candidate for federal, state, or country elective public office;

• Served as an elected or appointed member of the state committee of a political party;

• Has been registered as a lobbyist in New Hampshire; and

• Has contributed 75 percent or more of the individual campaign contribution limit allowable under the Federal Election Campaign Act, or any successor law that replace the Federal Election Campaign Act, to any one federal candidate.

• Authorizes any member of the public to submit maps or portion of maps for consideration by commission during the map drawing process (Chapter 662-B:5).

• Requires the commission to release proposed maps and display the proposed maps for a minimum of 14 days for public comment and by distribution to the news media in a manner designed to achieve the widest public access reasonable to possible before establishing a final plan (Chapter 662-B:5).

• Requires the commission to establish single or multi-member districts for the New Hampshire county commissions, house of representatives, and single member districts for the New Hampshire senate, executive council, and United States representative, using the following criteria (Chapter 662-B:6):

• Districts shall comply with the United States Constitution and all applicable federal laws, with districts being drawn on the basis of total population;

• Districts shall comply with the New Hampshire constitution and all applicable state laws;

• Districts shall form single boundaries and shall not be bisected or otherwise divided by other districts, and shall respect the geographic integrity of political boundaries to the extent practicable without violating the requirements of state law or any of the preceding subdivision;

• Districts shall provide racial minorities and language minorities with an equal opportunity to participate in the political process shall not diminish their ability to elect candidates of choice, whether alone or in coalition with others; and

• Districts shall respect the integrity of communities of interest to the extent practicable.

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Chris Sununu

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an independent redistricting commission to eliminate partisan gerrymandering.

Highlights:

• Establishes an independent redistricting commission, to convene no later than July 1 every 10 years beginning in 2021, in order to (Chapter 662-B:1):

• Conduct an open and transparent process enabling full public consideration of and comment on the drawing of district lines;

• Draw district lines according to the redistricting criteria specified in this chapter; and

• Conduct its business with integrity and fairness.

• Requires an individual to be eligible for appointment to the commission if the individual has registered as a voter in New Hampshire, and has been a member of the same political party or with no political party since the previous statewide election (Chapter 662-B:2).

• Requires each commission member to have voted in two of the last three statewide general elections immediately preceding his or her application for appointment to the commission (Chapter 662-B:2).

• Prohibits an individual to be eligible to serve as a member of the commission if, at any point during the 4 years prior to submitting an application for appointment to the commission, the individual (Chapter 662-B:2):

• Has been a candidate for, or elected to, any federal, state, or country elective public office;

• Served as an officer, or employee of, or consultant to, a major political party or a campaign committee of a candidate for federal, state, or country elective public office;

• Served as an elected or appointed member of the state committee of a political party;

• Has been registered as a lobbyist in New Hampshire; and

• Has contributed 75 percent or more of the individual campaign contribution limit allowable under the Federal Election Campaign Act, or any successor law that replace the Federal Election Campaign Act, to any one federal candidate.

• Authorizes any member of the public to submit maps or portion of maps for consideration by commission during the map drawing process (Chapter 662-B:5).

• Requires the commission to release proposed maps and display the proposed maps for a minimum of 14 days for public comment and by distribution to the news media in a manner designed to achieve the widest public access reasonable to possible before establishing a final plan (Chapter 662-B:5).

• Requires the commission to establish single or multi-member districts for the New Hampshire county commissions, house of representatives, and single member districts for the New Hampshire senate, executive council, and United States representative, using the following criteria (Chapter 662-B:6):

• Districts shall comply with the United States Constitution and all applicable federal laws, with districts being drawn on the basis of total population;

• Districts shall comply with the New Hampshire constitution and all applicable state laws;

• Districts shall form single boundaries and shall not be bisected or otherwise divided by other districts, and shall respect the geographic integrity of political boundaries to the extent practicable without violating the requirements of state law or any of the preceding subdivision;

• Districts shall provide racial minorities and language minorities with an equal opportunity to participate in the political process shall not diminish their ability to elect candidates of choice, whether alone or in coalition with others; and

• Districts shall respect the integrity of communities of interest to the extent practicable.

Full Bill Text