From the Associated Press
“Some states use legislatures, some states use commissions and then there’s Iowa,” said Tim Storey, a senior fellow with the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver. “The Iowa approach to redistricting is unlike any other state.”
That Legislative Services Agency prepares a map of new congressional and legislative districts, and that initial map must be submitted to the Legislature by April 1. In preparing the map, staffers can use only population data to propose districts that are as close to equal and as compact as possible.
They are banned from considering data such as voter registration or voter performance, and they don’t have access to the addresses of incumbent legislators and congressmen until after the map is prepared. Once the map is drawn, they go back and figure out which lawmakers are in which district.
“Many things make the Iowa process unique, including the prohibition on the use of political data,” Storey said.
The task will be especially tricky because Iowa is among at least nine states likely to lose a seat in Congress. That means two of the current five are likely to be paired in a new district.
The Legislature can’t amend the first plan, only vote it up or down. If it’s voted down, staffers will prepare a second, also not subject to amendment. If that plan is rejected, staffers start again and prepare a third plan, which can be amended.