The Alaska Redistricting Board has approved six proposals for new state legislative districts, including two revisions to its own proposed maps. Redistricting is a process that happens after each national census to re-apportion legislative seats based on population shifts.
As of Wednesday, the two maps from the redistricting board were viewable to the public.
The maps revised by the board would mean significant changes for the district that represents the Northern Susitna Valley. Currently, House District 10 includes Houston, much of Meadow Lakes, and all Northern Susitna Valley communities along the Parks Highway within the Mat-Su Borough. It also includes a stretch of the western side of the Knik Arm.
One of the proposals includes more communities in the Interior. In that map, the new area, District 30, would incorporate most of the Denali Borough and stretch north to Nenana (nee-NAH-nuh). It would also mean the Northern Susitna Valley is no longer in the same district as Houston and Meadow Lakes.
The other proposal also drops Meadow Lakes from the District, keeps Houston, and extends further south to include Big Lake, Point Mackenzie, and part of Knik-Goose Bay. The proposal also includes Denali Borough communities as far north as Clear.
In addition to removing Meadow Lakes, both proposals include the entirety of Denali National Park in the new boundary.
In addition to maps drawn by the Alaska Redistricting Board, four groups have also submitted proposals, which are not yet viewable on the board’s website. Those groups include Alaskans for Fair Redistricting, Alaskans for Fair and Equitable Redistricting, a coalition of Doyon, Ltd., Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks Native Association, Sealaska, and Ahtna, and the Senate minority caucus.
The redistricting board will soon begin public meetings to discuss the map proposals before adopting its final plan by November 10th.
