What is Redistricting?
Redistricting is the process to redraw county commissioner district boundaries so they accurately reflect population changes in Colorado counties.
Under Colorado Revised Statute (30-10-306.7) boundaries for county commissioner districts must be redrawn based on data from the most recent United States Census.
Due to a nationwide delay in states receiving 2020 United States Census data, the Colorado State Legislature passed legislation to delay county commissioner redistricting until 2023, to allow time to analyze data and adequately prepare. The new districts will be effective in the 2024 election cycle.
The deadline to complete this process is September 2023.
To help facilitate the creation of the district boundaries, a Redistricting Commission is selected to redraw the district lines.
The Redistricting Commission
During the April 18, 2023, El Paso County Board of County Commissioners meeting, a presentation was made to the Board about the redistricting process. Following the presentation, the decision was made to appoint the Board of County Commissioners as the Redistricting Commission (Resolution 23-124), an option that was outlined as a possibility for the redistricting process.
The Redistricting Commission is subject to the same anti-bribery and abuse of public office provisions, open meeting, and open record requirements as other elected officials. They are also strictly prohibited from having any communication with duly appointed support staff regarding the content or development of any plan outside of public hearings.
One or more staff members also may be designated to communicate with both members of the Redistricting Commission and the duly appointed designated staff regarding only administrative matters. The definition and scope of such administrative matters will be determined by the Redistricting Commission.
The Redistricting Commission will follow specific criteria for developing the updated district maps.
Criteria for Plan Development
- Mathematical population equality within 5% deviation
- Compliance with “Voting Rights Act of 1965”, 52 U.S.C. sec, 10301, as amended
- As much as possible, preserve whole communities of interest and political subdivisions
- Thereafter, to the extent possible, maximize the number of politically competitive districts
- Recommended sensitivity related to the number of voters switched between County Commissioner election cycles
Public Involvement/Resources
All working meetings of the Redistricting Committee are open meetings which the public may attend in person or virtually. El Paso County residents may submit comments about the redistricting process at these meetings, by phone during the meetings, or via a digital comment form at any time. All comments submitted are public and will be posted on the public comments page for residents to view.
The Clerk & Recorders Office has provided various resources for the public to view, including:
Important Dates (Public Hearing locations will be added as they are scheduled)
April 18, 2023 – Board of County Commissioner Meeting approving Redistricting Commission (Archive Video | Agenda)
May 8, 2023 – Introductory Meeting of the Redistricting Commission, Monday, May 8, 2023, 5:30 p.m.; 200 South Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (Archive Video | Agenda | Archived Materials)
May 12, 2023 – Create a website for residents to submit testimony and proposed maps
June 12, 2023 – Monday; 5:30 pm; District 1; Location: Lewis Palmer High School, 1300 Higby Rd., Monument, CO 80132
June 21, 2023 – Wednesday; 5:30 pm: District 2; Location: Mountain View Academy, 2103 Meadowbrook Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80951
July 6, 2023 – Thursday; 5:30 pm; District 4; Location: Mesa Ridge High School, 6070 Mesa Ridge Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80911
July 10, 2023 – Monday; 5:30 pm; District 3; Location: Cheyenne Mountain High School, 1200 Cresta Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80906
July 14, 2023 – Last day for public to submit plans via website
July 17, 2023 – Monday; 9:00 am; District 5; Location: Regional Development Center, 2880 International Cir., Colorado Springs, CO 80910
August 4, 2023 – Deadline for all five public hearings held (one in each Commissioner district)
August 8, 2023 – Deadline for additional plans by Redistricting Commission
August 11, 2023 – Last date for written public comment on proposals
August 15, 2023 – Proposed date of final adoption of plan