Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a constitutional amendment to amend campaign finance and state election laws.

Highlights:

• Establishes in the state legislature a house independent bipartisan citizens commission and a senate independent bipartisan citizens commission to begin preparation of legislative districting plans and maps (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that members of the bipartisan citizen commissions shall be nominated by the governor at the direct recommendation of legislative state committees (Sec. 3).

• Requires the commission to no later than 5 months after its appointment file with the secretary of state a tentative plan for apportionment and map of the proposed districts, and in the next 15 days hold public hearings so any objections or testimony by interested individuals can be made (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that 6 months after the commissions’ appointment, a final statement on the numbers, boundaries, and map of the districts shall be filed with the secretary of state that has been approved by at least 7 of the 10 members (Sec. 3).

• Requires state voting districts be drawn in a way that is as nearly equal as practicable in population as reported in the last completed census (Sec. 3).

• Requires state voting districts be as compact as possible and be in a square, rectangular, or hexagonal shape to the extent permitted by natural or political boundaries (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that districts shall be designed in a way that achieves both partisan fairness and competitiveness but not in a way that hinders the aforementioned requirements (Sec. 3).

• Defines “partisan fairness” to mean that parties shall be able to translate their popular support into a legislative representation with approximately equal efficiency (Sec. 3).

• Defines “competitiveness” to mean that parties’ legislative representation shall be substantially and similarly responsive to shifts in the electorate’s preferences (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text