Changes approved by Commissioners, sent to state for approval
The Hamilton County Election Office has filed its suggested precinct changes with the State of Indiana for approval. The Hamilton County Commissioners signed off on the changes at their meeting on Monday.
Williams
“We typically do all of this in June or July,” said Hamilton County Clerk Kathy Williams. “But with the delay in the census, approval of new house, senate and congressional districts was delayed. Our office has been working tirelessly to get these turned around in a timely fashion.”
Indiana is required by state and federal law to redraw Indiana’s Statehouse and congressional maps following the nationwide census every 10 years. The Indiana General Assembly approved the new congressional and state legislative district lines on Oct. 1. Governor Eric Holcomb signed them into law three days later.
“These changes forced us to reevaluate our precincts,” Williams added. “Nearly every precinct in Hamilton County will change as a result – whether that’s in size, location, annexation or name. Voters will get a notification of their precinct changes some time in December.”
By law, each precinct must have at least 600 eligible voters and no more than 2,000. A precinct may not cross a congressional or state legislative district line.
State Senate and House of Representatives district lines must be in place for candidates to meet residence requirements by Nov. 8, 2021. Article 4 Section 7 of the Indiana Constitution requires candidates to be inhabitants of the district for one year before the November 2022 General Election.
Hamilton County Commissioners are required by state law to review and redraw, if necessary, commissioner and county council districts. If needed, changes must be filed with the county clerk no later than Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. City and town councils are required by state law to review and redraw, if necessary, their election districts no later than Nov. 8, 2022. School boards have until Dec. 31, 2021 to review their school board districts that vote by district.