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DENVER, CO – The County Commissioner Redistricting Integrity Act, sponsored by Representatives Amy Paschal and Chad Clifford, has passed the House and Senate and now heads to Governor Polis. HB26-1038 would ensure elected county commissioners do not draw their own district maps.
“Our bill maintains local control while strengthening transparency and voter input in the county commissioner redistricting process,” said Rep. Amy Paschal, D-Colorado Springs. “Elected officials should not be allowed to draw their own maps without voter input. Representative democracy matters, and this bill will help create a fairer, more equitable county commissioner redistricting process that encourages voters to weigh in.”
“One thing is clear: elected officials should not be allowed to draw their own district maps without voter input,” said Rep. Chad Clifford, D-Centennial. “This bill works to strengthen public trust and input in the county commissioner redistricting process, so the voice of Colorado voters is front and center. From bills that strengthen our gold-standard elections system to HB26-1038, we’re taking steps to defend democracy in Colorado.”
The County Commissioner Redistricting Integrity Act (HB26-1038) would require more voter input for county commissioner redistricting. Under current law, county commissioners' maps are the only partisan political office not drawn by an independent redistricting commission. This means elected county commissioners can draw their own district maps.
This bill would require the independent county commissioner redistricting commission to create and make available a competitiveness formula for public comment.
HB26-1038 upholds local control by allowing the board of county commissioners to appoint members to the independent redistricting committee and instruct them to create one or multiple maps to be selected by majority vote. Additionally, the board of county commissioners may reject a district map that does not meet statutory requirements. The board of county commissioners also retains the ability to remove members from the independent redistricting commission if they are disruptive or insufficiently engaged.