EDITORIAL: Redistricting commission should receive fair chance at Legislature

Legislators have spent two years studying what should be done to assure more fairness in drawing maps of legislative and congressional districts in Indiana. The study commission process led to a bill that would create an independent redistricting commission to draw the maps, which would be voted upon by lawmakers, as required by the state constitution.

An independent commission would reduce the chances of communities being sliced and diced, as Bloomington and Monroe County were the last time district lines were drawn. Five different House districts and two Senate districts break up this community, which greatly splits and effectively silences the natural voting tendencies of Bloomington. The Republican-led efforts drew the boundaries for that party’s benefit rather than for the benefit of Hoosiers.

But this is not just about Bloomington, of course. It’s about making sure competitive districts are drawn throughout the state so Hoosier voters have real choices in elections.

Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus, is the chairman of the House Elections Committee. He denied a committee vote last week even though dozens of people attended the committee hearing on the matter to support the bill. Only one person spoke against it. Statehouse media reported Smith said the bill had not been worked on enough in committee as he refused to call it for a vote.

Bills must pass out of committee by next Tuesday to move forward. Smith should let the committee vote this bill on to the full House, keeping alive the possibility an independent commission that would put more fairness in Indiana’s district boundaries. That would be the right thing to do.