Hurdles loom, but KY lawmakers hope for special session on redistricting before year’s end
Kentucky Republican lawmakers are hopeful that a special session of the General Assembly can be held by year’s end to redraw the boundaries of the state’s legislative and congressional districts.
But there are several hurdles to overcome for that to happen.
The call for a special session would have to be made by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.
Only the governor can call a special session and set its agenda. Beshear may be cautious in doing that if the maps drawn by the Republican majorities in the House and Senate do great harm to Democrats.
Beshear especially may not look too kindly on a special session if Republicans make wholesale changes in Jefferson County’s 3rd Congressional District, now held by Democrat John Yarmuth. Yarmuth has said he is not seeking re-election next year to another two-year term.
Another complicating factor for a special session this year is the busy calendar.
Some state lawmakers are going to Tampa, Fla., this week to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures Summit. Also, House and Senate Republicans would like to hold caucus retreats in a few weeks, and there is Thanksgiving on Nov. 25.
Rep. Jerry Miller, R-Eastwood in Jefferson County, is co-chair of the interim state government committee. He said this week it would be good to make redrawn maps public at least two weeks or 10 days before lawmakers vote on them.
“It’s still a possibility to have a special session on redistricting this year, but it’s looking more and more that it will be in December, if we have one,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said he thinks “it’s still possible to have a special session in late November or early December.”
He said legislators have not yet asked Beshear to call one. “We’re still working on the maps,” he said.
If there is no special session on redistricting this year, legislators likely would extend the filing deadline for candidates.
The filing deadline for candidates now is Jan. 7. That’s just three days after the 2022 General Assembly begins in Frankfort.
Extending the deadline could delay work in the General Assembly since some lawmakers are reluctant to tackle weighty issues until they know who their district opponents are.
The upcoming session has several tough issues to tackle, ranging from preparing a two-year state budget to measures related to COVID-19.
“I hope we don’t have to extend the filing deadline but we might have to,” said Miller.
Whenever lawmakers approve redistricting legislation, Beshear will have the right to veto it. But Republicans can flex their majority vote and override any veto.
Both Thayer and Miller had little to say about what redrawn maps will look like.
“Hopefully they will be ready soon,” said Thayer.
Asked if the redrawn maps will pit any incumbents against each other, Thayer said, “All options are on the table.”
Miller said that scenario is possible in the House.
Thayer declined to elaborate on whether boundary changes are in the offing for the 3rd Congressional District now held by Yarmuth to make it easier for a Republican to capture that seat.
But Miller said he would be “surprised” if that happens.
“You would not want to run afoul of the federal Voting Rights Act law that says you can’t split up blocks of racial minorities to weaken their political power,” he said.
Miller noted that some politicians have said, “You can get too cute in redistricting.”
Besides redrawing the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts, lawmakers may also consider a judicial redistricting plan.
Lawmakers have tried in recent sessions to redraw the judicial districts and circuits, but nothing has passed.
State legislatures have to redistrict every 10 years to address population shifts. They use official U.S. Census Bureau date to make sure each district has close to an equal number of people.
Some states leave redistricting to an independent commission, but Kentucky, like 27 other states, relies on the legislature to perform the task. That gives the political party in power much say on how the districts’ boundaries.
The League of Women Voters of Kentucky tried a few years ago to create a citizen-led redistricting advisory commission but that effort failed. The League has refocused and is calling for an an open, transparent process with opportunities for public input.
It has been holding forums and webinars throughout the state to gather public comments for creating recommended maps to legislators.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 12:30 PM.
