Parson tabs panel to redraw legislative lines

Gov. Mike Parson appointed 40 people to the commissions responsible for redistricting the state's legislative maps following the 2020 Census.

Members of the House and Senate Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commissions, which redraw district lines, were announced Friday.

The list includes three Jefferson City residents: Mark Ellinger, Pat Thomas and Jonathan Ratliff.

The announcement comes after a 60-day period for Democrat and Republican state and congressional district committees to submit nominations. In accordance with the Missouri Constitution, nominations were due 60 days after the U.S. Census Bureau provided President Joe Biden with the 2020 Census Apportionment Results.

Parson then had 30 days to make the appointments.

The Senate Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission consists of both a Democrat and Republican from each of the state's eight congressional districts, as well as two Democrats and two Republicans from across the state. The House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission follows the same formula.

The first House and Senate commission meetings will be Aug. 10 at the Missouri state Capitol.

The commissions are given five months to submit a redistricting plan to the Secretary of State's Office and Elections Division. The commissions have an additional month to issue a final statement approved by seven-tenths of the commissioners.

For a full list of appointments, visit governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-parson-makes-appointments-house-and-senate-independent-bipartisan.