2022 NYS Assembly and State Senate Lines will be redrawn-How?

Below is an overview of State Legislative Required

Redistricting Systems and the Process for New York State to follow in redrawing the lines. Conferences and internal meetings should already be in process on the matter-inquire with your Present State Elected to see where our Community lies in the equation. Congressional reduction of seats-doesn't immediately mean that State Legislative seats from the same area will also be consolidated. This is why it's difficult for Candidates seeking statewide offices, not presently the Incumbent to state exactly if they will seek state offices in 2022-because we simply do not know-where the Lines are drawn yet.

State Assembly Seats can also be increased or reduced depending on Census results-that is a highly important citizen contribution in Process and being involved in formation of Legislative Districts. Some feel; If you didn't participate in the U.S. Census; then you do have the right to voice concerns over the Redistricting Process. I absolutely disagree with that viewpoint-because many do not understand the importance of U.S. Census participation at large and feel that information could be used to export one from U.S. territory-that is simply incorrect. A fear Tactic by those that support that mission-which I do not and is not part of State Policy Makers decision making-it's Federal in nature-but I like to be clear and direct. I don't support the extradition of law abiding residents-but I do support removal of international criminals; they should be sent back to their Homeland immediately.

As a political scientist-Maryann Maltese is here to clear up any confusion and misinformation provided-and to remind the general public that NYS has an obligation to you to hold Statewide Public Meetings on Redistricting or the lines could be seen as unconstitutional in scope. It's important for impacted communities to voice their concerns once the new Lines are drawn. A good question for you to consider once the lines are drawn; Do you support or oppose the New Redistricting Statewide Maps-It's important to pay attention on the matter to perhaps file necessary complaints if Neighborhoods are divided with political intent vs what's best for the Community. Many pay close attention to Federal Seats-but not State Lines as often-huge Mistake. Why?- You can reach me directly and I'll gladly share my concern on it as a Master and where I see NYS headed in the very near future.

I completely recommend; each and every household to advise the NYS State Redistricting Legislative Commission of your support or opposition once the New Election Statewide Districts are provided no-later than January 1, 2022. You should do so beyond reaching out to State Legislators in the immediate area-to ensure that your position is included.

Here's the breakdown provided by NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures-New York)

NEW YORK

Who draws state legislative lines: Independent Redistricting Commission prepares maps for the legislature’s consideration.
Who draws congressional lines: Independent Redistricting Commission prepares maps for the legislature’s consideration.
Redistricting deadline: The commission must combine the legislative plans into one proposed bill and submit it to the legislature by Jan. 1, 2022 (with an allowance to submit as late as Jan. 15, 2022, if necessary). If the legislature rejects the first plan or the governor vetoes it, the commission must submit a second plan to the legislature no later than Feb. 28, 2022. If the legislature rejects the first and second plans, there is no deadline for the legislature itself to act.
Criteria used:

• Compactness.
• Contiguity.
• Preservation of political subdivisions.
• Preservation of communities of interest.
• Preservation of the cores of prior districts.
• Competitiveness.
• Prohibition on favoring or disfavoring an incumbent, candidate or party.

Public access and input rules:

• Public map submissions: At least 30 days before the first public hearing, the commission must make all maps and their underlying information or data publicly available so the public may develop alternative plans to present to the commission at public hearings.
• Public hearings and access: The commission must conduct at least one hearing in the cities of Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester and White Plains, and in Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau and Suffolk counties.
• Notice: Notice of hearings shall be widely published and in a reasonable time before all such hearings.

Commission composition:

• Partisan Breakdown:
  • None required for the legislatively appointed members. The commissioner-appointed members may not be registered with either of the two largest parties in the state by voter registration.
  • Functionally, four Democrats, four Republicans and two of neither of those parties.
• Qualifications:
  • Only registered New York voters are eligible to serve as commissioners. Additionally, no member shall within the last three years:
    • Be or have been a member of the New York state legislature or United States Congress or a statewide elected official.
    • Be or have been a state officer or employee or legislative employee.
    • Be or have been a registered lobbyist in New York state.
    • Be or have been a political party chairman.
    • Be the spouse of a statewide elected official or of any member of Congress or of the state legislature.
  • To the extent practicable, the members of the commission shall reflect the diversity of the residents of New York with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, language and geographic residence.

• Selection of commissioners:
  • Two members each shall be appointed by:
    • The temporary president of the Senate.
    • The speaker of the Assembly.
    • The minority leader of the Senate.
    • The minority leader of the Assembly.
  • Those eight commissioners shall approve, by a majority vote, two additional members who have not for the past five years been registered with either of the two political parties containing the largest or second largest number of registered voters within the state.

2010 cycle outcomes (note: in 2010, the legislature drew the maps):

• Congressional: The legislature failed to adopt new maps during the 2012 session. The task fell to a federal court, which adopted new maps in May 2012.
• Legislative: The legislature passed A 9525 in March 2012. Two weeks later, the legislature passed technical corrections to the new maps.

Prisoner reallocation: New York began reallocating prisoners during the 2010 cycle.
Summary
For all redistricting up through the 2010 cycle, the power to draw new district maps in New York—like in the vast majority of states—rested with the state legislature. An advisory commission assisted the legislature in its task, but the legislature was free to ignore the commission’s recommendations. In 2014, voters approved a legislatively referred constitutional amendment to create a new advisory commission. While a novel system not used in any other state, the new commission may be characterized as somewhat analogous to the system used in Iowa.
Once the new advisory commission is created, it will draw maps for the legislature to approve in an up-or-down vote. If the legislature rejects the commission’s first map, the commission will redraw the map and submit a second version to the legislature for another up-or-down vote. Only if the legislature rejects this second map does it gain the power to draw districts on its own, but it may still comply with the same traditional and emerging criteria by which the commission was bound.
Under the new advisory commission scheme, the number of legislative votes required to approve a commission-drawn map varies depending on the political makeup of the legislature:

• If (i) the speaker of the Assembly and the temporary president of the Senate are members of different political parties and (ii) the commission recommends a map to the legislature with at least seven votes in favor, one of which is by an appointee of the Assembly speaker and one of which is by an appointee of the temporary Senate president, then only a simple majority (50% + one) is required for legislative approval of a map.
• If (i) the speaker of the Assembly and the president of the Senate are members of different political parties and (ii) the commission is unable to recommend a map to the legislature with at least seven votes in favor, then the map that the commission recommends to the legislature can only pass with a three-fifths majority (60%).
• If the speaker of the Assembly and the president of the Senate are members of the same party, then a two-thirds majority (66%) is required for legislative approval of a map.

"https://www.ncsl.org/research/redistricting/redistricting-systems-a-50-s..." target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="N" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://www.google.com/url?q=h...CSL Redistricting Starter Kit for Legislative Staff

• NCSL Webpage on Redistricting Criteria
• NCSL's Redistricting Law 2020 Book
• NCSL Webpage on Commissions for Legislative Districts
• NCSL Webpage on Commissions for Congressional Districts

Maryann Maltese, a political scientist-30 years of State and Federal Master. Maryann, presently resides in Huntington Township and is a Real Estate Associate-Atlantic Shores-Better Homes and Gardens, able to assist you in your first or next real estate venture. To reach Maryann; maryann.maltese@bhgliving.com. Check out my Bio at Atlantic Shores; Better Homes and Gardens.