Idaho
Congressional BoundariesDrawn by independent redistricting commission
State BoundariesDrawn by independent redistricting commission
Governor's PartyRepublican
Legislative PartyRepublican

Scored Maps from the Redistricting Report Card

Communities of Interest

Check out Communities of Interest collected in this state on Representable

Learn about Communities of Interest in this state

Census-related Redistricting Timeline Delays

Congressional

Alert:
Low

State Legislative

Alert:
Low

Process

Independent Redistricting Commission

Idaho’s state legislative and congressional districts are drawn by Idaho’s Citizen Commission for Reapportionment, made up of six members who are evenly balanced between the two major parties. The majority and minority leaders in both legislative chambers, as well as the chairs of the two largest political parties, each select one commission member, keeping geographical diversity in mind.

Criteria

In addition to the federal requirements of one person, one vote and the Voting Rights Act, Idaho’s state constitution (Art. III § 5) requires that state legislative and congressional districts be contiguous and avoid unnecessary county splits. Additionally, Idaho’s state statutes (Stat. 72-1506) further require that districts be compact, preserve communities of interest, and do not protect a party or incumbent.

Public Input

The Idaho Commission has released its 2020 redistricting website, where the public can find relevant information and contacts.

Idaho’s state statutes (Stat. 72-1505) require the commission to hold public meetings in different parts of the state, subject to open meetings laws, and to accept redistricting plans by individuals or organizations.

In 2011, the original commission held 14 hearings between June and July, and a new commission held 3 hearings in October. The commission also provided access to an online mapping tool called Maptitude to help citizens draw their own district plans.

2011 Cycle

In the 2011 cycle, the original commission failed to meet its redistricting deadline. A new six-member commission was formed and unanimously adopted a plan. In January 2012, the state Supreme Court struck down that plan in Twin Falls County v. Idaho Commission on Redistricting, finding that it unnecessarily split counties in violation of the state constitution. The second commission was reconvened to create new maps; partisan officials attempted to fire two commissioners, but following litigation up to the state Supreme Court, the commissioners were allowed to keep serving. The commission unanimously adopted new maps on January 27, 2012.

Issues

Actions

Participate in the Commission’s public input process.

  • Obtain Idaho redistricting data from OpenPrecincts.
  • Start to plan out what defines your community – whether it’s a shared economic interest, school districts, or other social or other cultural, historical, or economic interests – and how that can be represented on a map. This will come in handy once the commission starts collecting feedback.
  • Use software tools such as Dave's Redistricting App and Districtr to draw district maps showing either (a) what a fair map would look like, or (b) where the community you believe should be better represented is located.

Contacts

League of Women Voters of Idaho

Sources

All About Redistricting

NCSL

Ballotpedia