In the November election, Alaskans will be asked to vote on ballot measure 1, a constitutional amendment that would expand the size of the Alaska State Legislature by 6 members.

Every ten years following the completion of the U.S. national census, an appointed independent redistricting board is given the charge of drawing new legislative district lines which reflect population growth and movement. Alaska’s 5 member board includes Juneau resident Al Clough, former legislators Jon Torgerson of Soldotna and Jim Holm of Fairbanks, Bob Brodie of Kodiak and Marie Kasannaaluk Greene of Kotzebue.

If the Constitutional amendment passes, the Legislature will increase from 40 to 44 members in the House and from 20 to 22 in the Senate. Each new House district would include roughly the same number of people as are currently represented, approximately 15,600 residents per district.

It is anticipated that Southeast Alaska will lose one House district in the upcoming redistricting process with or without passage of ballot measure 1. From 2000 to 2010 our region as a whole lost population with the exceptions of district 3 and 4 which remained unchanged. While the Railbelt and the Mat-Su have experienced considerable growth, other areas have not.

Currently Southeast Alaska holds 5 of 40 house seats. Should ballot measure 1 pass, it is anticipated that we would hold 4 of 44 seats. While there is great interest in maintaining more or less the current boundaries of our rural districts, there is no question that the additional seats will incorporate the highest growth areas in the Mat-Su and Anchorage areas. I clearly understand the difficulty of representing vast districts with multiple communities. I am also concerned, however, with the ramifications for Southeast Alaska should the legislature expand.

The redistricting board will have 90 days from the official reporting of the census to complete their task. Alaska’s constitution stipulates that by the end of the first 30 days "the board shall adopt one or more proposed redistricting plans." The board then takes the next 60 days to analyze and hold public hearings around the state on the proposed plan(s) and by the end of those 60 days must adopt a final plan.