State senators Kevin Kinney (D) and Jeff Reichman (R), who share representation of Washington County, comment on the proposed redistricting maps that were rejected during a special legislative session this week.

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency draws the congressional and state legislative maps after each census to reflect changes in population. Republican and Democrat senators both voted on party lines, with the chamber then approving a resolution outlining their concerns to be sent back to LSA. Reichman shares why he voted to reject the maps, “Several districts, I think there were 18% of them that the districts were outside the norms as far as length and width and compactness. Seventeen of the districts were above average length and width and 33 of the house districts. So just a lot of things that like I said, it was C+ or B- work and it needs to be the ‘A game.’”

Kinney says he saw no concerns to reject what was drawn, “My district is going to change dramatically and it’s not that I really like having my district change. But there again, every 10 years this is done and it’s done in a fair and impartial way in which that’s the way that I think it should be, and I think that they came up with districts that fit that criteria.”

The LSA has 35 days to submit a new plan, and they announced Wednesday that they will submit their second proposal by October 21st, a timeline of 16 days. Governor Kim Reynolds will then be expected to call the chambers for another special session.