State Redistricting Commission to Hold Public Meeting for 8th District

The state Redistricting Commission is holding an online public outreach meeting tomorrow for residents in the 8th Congressional District, which extends from the Wenatchee Valley to suburban Seattle and includes urban, suburban and rural areas.

The commission is trying to get a handle on common interests in cities and towns as the redistricting process begins.

Tomorrow's meeting is being streamed by TVW. You can also register to make a public comment online. Find access to both here.

Every 10 years, after the federal Census is complete, a Redistricting Commission is formed to redraw state and federal voting districts based on changes in population.

COVID-19 delays in delivery of Census numbers is complicating this year's process, which will determine the boundaries for U.S. House districts as well as the state House and Senate.

The Census Bureau has agreed to deliver redistricting data in a legacy format by August 16. The legacy format provides the numbers in raw form, without tools such as data tables.

In Washington State, the district boundaries are drawn by a five-member non-political commission. The commission will submit its completed state plan to the Legislature on October 15. The constitutional deadline for the commission to adopt revised congressional and legislative district boundaries is November.

Under a state law from 2019, state prison inmates are counted as residents of their home addresses for redistricting purposes

Democrat Kim Schrier represents the 8th District in the U.S. House.