NY exploring options to redraw congressional map mid-decade

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)---Republican lawmakers in Texas are trying to redraw their state’s congressional map mid-decade in an effort to give their party five more seats in Washington next year.

Jeff Wice, a redistricting expert and adjunct professor at NY Law School, said it’s difficult to predict what will happen if they are successful and if other states will follow. 

"Not a good idea, not one that I recommend," said Wice. "Not one that the constitutional founders ever envisioned. Nor have the courts. So really getting into uncharted areas."

Despite that, New York could possibly be one of those states. A bill has been proposed to amend the New York State Constitution.

"Republicans are willing to rewrite these rules to give themselves an advantage, then they are leaving us no choice. We must do the same," said Governor Kathy Hochul at a press conference on Monday.

A resolution for an amendment has been introduced to allow mid-decade congressional redistricting if other states change their lines first. If approved, the soonest it could go into effect is for the 2028 election.

Currently, New York State’s constitution requires an independent redistricting commission to agree on a set of maps. However, it failed to do so during the last redistricting process resulting in lawsuits.

"The commission is not the perfect redistricting method as others accuse the legislature of not being the best method," said Wice. "So, there will be a good lively debate on this." 

Governor Kathy Hochul said she would like to see the state’s commission disbanded or changed. Republican Assembly Leader Will Barclay shared his thoughts.

"The fact that we have an independent redistricting commission [that] tries or attempts to make as much as it possibly can, politics out of the process. That didn’t completely work last time. The idea that she’s willing to give that up just kinda goes to show she’s willing to put politics over policy— public policy and I think it’s very, very troublesome," said Barclay.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment to implement the commission back in 2014, something the League of Women Voters New York thinks should remain in place.

"There is a lot of ways the current system could be improved," said Erica Smitka, Executive Director of League of Women Voters New York. "We are currently taking a look at what some of those changes might be."