Legislature to vote on new congressional district maps

On Thursday, Feb. 15, the bipartisan redistricting commission in New York approved a new congressional map with a vote of 9-1. The new map approved the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission (NYSIRC) and will now be subject to final approval by the state legislature.

The state had been court-ordered to complete the redistricting process by Feb. 28, but no date has been set for the legislature to vote on the approved map.

House of Representatives candidates can commence signature collections to run for office this November starting Feb. 27.

In December 2023, the state Court of Appeals ordered an independent redistricting commission to redraw New York’s congressional districts. The 4-3 ruling was written by the new Chief Justice Rowan Wilson.

Back in November 2021, NYSIRC held their final in-person public hearing at Stony Brook University’s Charles B. Wang Center, after having traveled across New York State collecting feedback on the map proposals that were released by the commission earlier that fall.

The Redistricting Commission is meant to be a bipartisan group, with appointees from both parties and two members chosen by the six appointees.

Back in 2014, voters in New York voted yes on a proposition that created a constitutional amendment “to implement historic changes with the intent to achieve a fair and readily transparent process by which to redraw the lines of state legislative and congressional districts.” The redistricting commission was created to aid in this endeavor.