Census Delay Could Push Arkansas Redistricting Decisions into Fall, Bureau Warns

Marty Garrity of the Bureau of Legislative Research told the Senate committee that officials do not expect to receive the federal census data until "late September [or] first of October," a delay that complicates drawing congressional maps to meet a 1% population-variance standard.

Garrity said the bureau has unofficial 2019 population-shift reports from Shelby Johnson (GIS) showing two northwest Arkansas counties adding roughly 10,000 people per year, which could make it difficult to produce maps meeting a 1% variance if districts divide counties. "We do not expect to receive the census data until late September first of October," Garrity said.

Facing the late data, Garrity outlined options for the General Assembly: (1) recess until the data arrive and then take up redistricting when maps are drafted, or (2) have the governor call a special session in sine die to address redistricting. She also flagged that, depending on the board of apportionment’s timeline for drawing maps, the secretary of state’s office might need to adjust filing dates and primary dates.

Committee members asked procedural questions about whether code changes would be required; Garrity said no statutory change is needed for congressional districts themselves but timing adjustments to filing and primary schedules could be necessary if map-drawing is delayed. She also noted that an extended recess longer than 90 days can cause acts to take effect on the 91st day rather than waiting for sine die, a scheduling detail the committee should consider.

The chair encouraged members to continue developing map ideas and said leadership would decide whether to recess or handle redistricting at a later meeting.