A precinct is the most local form of politics. Precincts are used for voting. Generally, both major parties have precinct committeemen and committeewomen.
With the census data finally in hand, it is time to redraw precinct lines in Hamilton County.
“We typically do all of this in June or July,” says Hamilton County Clerk Kathy Williams in a county news release. “But with the delay in the census, approval of new house, senate and congressional districts was delayed. Our office has been working tirelessly to get these turned around in a timely fashion.”
The Hamilton County Commissioners made precinct changes official on October 25th.
According to Williams, nearly every precinct in Hamilton County will change. That includes size, location, annexation or name. Hamilton County voters will get a notification of their precinct changes during the month of December.
Indiana is required by state and federal law to redraw Indiana’s Statehouse and congressional maps following the nationwide census every 10 years. The Indiana General Assembly approved the new congressional and state legislative district lines on October 1st. Governor Eric Holcomb signed them into law three days later.
State law dictates that each precinct must have at least 600 eligible voters and no more than 2,000. A precinct is not allowed to cross a congressional or state legislative district line.
State Senate and House of Representatives district lines must be in place for candidates to meet residence requirements by November 8, 2021. Article 4 Section 7 of the Indiana Constitution requires candidates to be inhabitants of the district for one year before the November 2022 General Election.
Hamilton County Commissioners are required by state law to review and redraw, if necessary, commissioner and county council districts. If needed, changes must be filed with the county clerk no later than Friday, December 31, 2021. City and town councils are required by state law to review and redraw, if necessary, their election districts no later than November 8, 2022. And school boards have until December 31, 2021 to review their school board districts that vote by district.