One to one: redistricting will be a priority

On Feb. 14, 2022, The House and Senate commenced the 66th Legislative Budget Session focused on developing a budget, local government funding, appropriating American Rescue Act funds, capital construction proposals and legislative redistricting.

Although the budget will be a primary issue to debate, redistricting the Cowboy State is on everyone’s mind. 

The need to redistrict comes from the results of the 2020 Census. Under the Wyoming Constitution, the Legislature is required to redraw state legislative districts prior to the first budget session following the U.S. Census to reflect shifts in the state’s population. 

Although Wyoming showed one of the slowest growth rates in the nation (Wyoming’s 2.3% resident population growth from 2010-2020 was slower than the increases in all neighboring states, ranging from 18.4% in Utah to a national average of 7.4% in Nebraska), the population in Wyoming did increase by over 13,000 in the last decade. 

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program, Representative Mark Kinner, R – Sheridan, told listeners the process is all about “one person, one vote.”

Due to population increases throughout the state, including House District 51, represented by Rep. Cyrus Western, R – Big Horn, the Legislature will redraw boundaries to reach a deviation. 

House District 40 Rep. Barry Crago, R – Buffalo. 

But it’s how those numbers will be moved that has so many in Sheridan and Johnson Counties concerned. 

One drafted bill from the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, proposed adding two House districts and a Senate district. The “62-31” redistricting map would affect both Sheridan and Johnson Counties by putting Arvada-Clearmont in a Campbell County District. 

Commissioners from both counties have sent a letter to the committee sharing “grave concerns”. Specifically, disenfranchising the residents of Arvada-Clearmont by locating them in a majority Campbell County District and creating up to 15 split precincts for legislative representation.

See the full letter to the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee from Sheridan and Johnson County Commissioners, here. Find HB 0100, here.