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Holcomb signs redistricting bill, officially ending legislative map-drawing process

Brandon Smith/IPB News

Indiana’s 2021 redistricting process is officially over. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill creating new legislative districts into law Monday.

The maps Republicans created for themselves over the past few weeks likely eliminate any competitive Congressional districts and virtually guarantee the GOP will maintain or even grow its supermajorities in the state House and Senate.

Holcomb, who did not publicly involve himself in the process, applauded lawmakers for being “orderly and transparent.”

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Many Hoosiers, however, argued the process wasn’t transparent. They said there wasn’t enough time after Republicans unveiled their maps for the public to fully understand and evaluate them. And they noted the only public hearings on the proposed districts were during the work day, at the Statehouse.

The new districts won’t take effect until Nov. 8, 2022 – Election Day.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.