Legislator aims to take politics out of redistricting

HELENA – It happens every decade, after every census: A five-member committee redraws the boundaries for legislative districts to ensure that each district has roughly the same number of voters.

Inevitably, the party out of power complains that the lines were drawn to give its rivals an edge in the next election.

Now a Republican from Victor is hoping to amend Montana's Constitution to change the way voting districts are created.

House Bill 500, sponsored by Rep. Gary MacLaren (pictured), would reduce the state districting and apportionment committee to four members. Currently, the constitution calls for four members chosen by the Legislature who vote on a fifth member to become the chairman. If they can’t agree, the decision goes to the Supreme Court.

MacLaren said this process is flawed because it gives the party in power a three-to-two vote to create districts they hope will benefit their party in the next statewide election.

“They’re gerrymandering,” MacLaren told the House State Administration Committee. “Some of those districts just don’t make sense.”

MacLaren said an even number of commission members could make fair decisions.

“Why does anybody have to be disadvantaged?” MacLaren said.

Rep. Sue Dickenson, D-Great Falls and the committee's vice chairman, said she was unsure a four-person commission could work together on such a divisive issue.

“Can you truly say with a straight face given what’s happened here so far this session that you can have an even number of people that can agree on redistricting and apportionment decisions?” Dickenson asked MacLaren.

MacLaren said he thought it was possible. In any case, he added, Montana voters should have the opportunity to decide the question.

Since the measure would require a constitutional amendment, it would need 100 votes from the 150-member to qualify for a future ballot.

No supporters or opponents testified at the hearing.

- by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy