Johnson County commissioners select three draft maps for public redistricting outreach

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners voted 5‑2 on May 22 to present three draft redistricting maps — draft 1B, draft 2 and draft 3B — for public engagement and review.

The vote came after a full-hour presentation by county staff and consultants outlining six draft maps and the criteria used to create them, including population deviation, compactness and anticipated longevity. Mike Kelly, chair of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners, presided over the Committee of the Whole meeting and led commissioners through the discussion and final motions.

Why it matters: the board must adopt new district boundaries that respond to population changes; the county’s existing map showed a population deviation of 11.02 percent, above the 10 percent threshold staff identified as triggering redistricting work. The board’s decision sends a limited set of options to residents for comment and begins a public engagement phase that staff said will conclude in mid‑June with a consultant report before a final map is chosen in July.

County staff and consultants described the six draft maps as varying by how many voters would move between districts and by the expected lifespan of the…