Indiana Gov.Mike Braun has called a special session of the state legislature beginning October 9 to address congressional redistricting, a move prompted by a recent Indiana Supreme Court ruling. The court found that a map approved in 2022 illegally split communities of interest and gave disproportionate depiction to Republican voters.
The decision stems from a lawsuit filed by Indiana Democrats alleging the map unfairly favored the Republican Party, violating the state constitution’s requirement that districts be compact and respect political subdivisions. The Supreme Court agreed, stating the map’s partisan bias was “severe” and directed the legislature to redraw the districts.
Braun’s announcement comes after weeks of deliberation and pressure from both parties.Lawmakers are tasked with creating a new map that adheres to the court’s guidelines while also accounting for population shifts identified in the 2020 census. Currently,Indiana has nine congressional seats,seven held by Republicans and two by democrats. The redistricting process could potentially shift the balance of power in the state’s congressional delegation.
The special session is expected to last several weeks, with lawmakers facing a tight deadline to finalize a new map before the 2024 election cycle. Failure to do so could led to further legal challenges and uncertainty surrounding Indiana’s representation in Congress. Indiana’s redistricting process is typically handled by the General Assembly, with the governor having the authority to call special sessions when necessary.