Senate, House Redistricting Committees approve rules, guidelines and map submission process

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate Select Committee on Redistricting and the House State and Federal Redistricting Committee met Thursday at the Oklahoma Capitol and adopted redistricting rules and guidelines as well as the parameters for public map submissions.

The rules, which can be viewed here and here, address procedural operations of the redistricting committees. The guidelines, which can be viewed here and here, outline the goals of the committees in drawing legislative boundaries with Census data.

The public map submission parameters include the technical criteria that maps must meet for submission. Additionally, map submissions are limited to Oklahoma residents only, and only one House and Senate map per person may be submitted. Submissions are due by 5:00 p.m., Sunday, April 4. Click here and here for the full map submission parameters.

“The rules, guidelines and map submission parameters are another key component in the open and transparent redistricting process. Public input is key and the response so far through town hall meetings has been great. I encourage all Oklahomans to get involved in the process by sharing their questions and concerns directly with their senator or sharing map submissions that comply with the guidelines adopted by the committee,” said Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle and Senate redistricting committee chair.

“A representative form of government rests on the premise that the governed will have a clear say in selecting those who serve them,” said Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond and House redistricting committee chair. “I would encourage all Oklahomans to go online, view the maps of proposed legislative and congressional districts from the public, participate in our town halls and talk to those who represent them so they are assured they have a true voice in this process.”

Oklahomans can visit the Senate or House websites to contact their senator or representative. Questions and concerns relating to redistricting can also be emailed to redistricting@oksenate.gov or redistrictoklahoma2020@okhouse.gov.

Additionally, Paxton, Martinez and House and Senate redistricting committee staff will participate in a virtual town hall at 6 p.m. Monday, March 1, to provide an update and discuss these actions. The virtual town hall includes a training from a representative of Dave’s Redistricting App, a free redistricting mapping resource that Oklahomans can utilize to try their hand at drawing state legislative districts.

That meeting is open to the public and accessible online at: https://okhouse.gov/Publications/VirtualMeets.aspx.