2021 Redistricting Public Input Report SUBMITTED TO THE HOUSE STATE AND FEDERAL REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE 58TH LEGISLATURE OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | HOUSE REDISTRICTING OFFICE By law, the Legislature must redraw its districts and congressional boundaries to reflect changes in population every 10 years, immediately following the decennial census. To facilitate and encourage public input in the redistricting process, the House Redistricting Committee and its regional subcommittees held a series of in person and virtual town halls throughout the state in December 2020 and January 2021. In collaboration with the Oklahoma Senate, there were 20 meetings hosted by staff and lawmakers, 18 in person, two virtual. Meetings were also livestreamed, when possible, and recorded. House recordings are available to the public to review at https://okhouse.gov/Video/Default.aspx. Senate town hall footage can be re- watched here: https://oksenate.gov/live-chamber. All Oklahomans were and are still encouraged to contact their state representative or email the House Redistricting Office at [email protected] to provide feedback on communities of interest, local preferences, and other thoughts on the redistricting process. For consideration by the House State and Federal Redistricting Committee, this report provides a summary of the feedback received at the town halls and through the House Redistricting Office through September 13, 2021. The report is organized into three sections: Section 1: Town Hall Notes (pages 2 to 15) Section 2: Local Preference/District Concerns/General Feedback (page 16 to 35) Section 3: Appendix (page 36) 1 | P a g e Oklahoma City House Redistricting Town Hall Date & Time: December 9, 2020, 5:30 p.m. (1 hour and 25 minute runtime) Recording available: https://okhouse.gov/Video/Default.aspx Location: Oklahoma State Capitol, Room 206, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Host: Representative Nicole Miller (HD 82), Rep. Ajay Pittman (HD 99) Chair and Vice-Chair, Oklahoma County Subcommittee Members Present: Representatives Miller, Pittman, Martinez, Roberts (Eric), Turner, Cruz, Crosswhite-Hader, Stinson, Osburn, Fugate. Joining virtually for the record: Reps. Echols, West, Stark, and Manger. Estimated Attendance: 30 Questions and comments from the public: 1. Rhonda M., Resident of Edmond, OK, representing the League of Women Voters • Are you accepting public map submissions? Please recognize and acknowledge historically disenfranchised communities when drawing boundary lines. On survey, Rhonda writes that this should be weighted higher than all other redistricting principles. 2. Ray P., Mayor of Jones, OK • I would like all citizens within Jones city limits to be able to vote in Jones and not any other towns (i.e. having to go to Spencer to vote). Jones is currently split by two Senate districts (SD 17 & 48) and two House districts (HD 97 & HD 96) and I request that the community be in one district each. Also, do not split our school district if possible. We need to have integrity in this process and be sure not to return to the time of segregation. Please don’t split Eastern OK County too much. On survey, Mayor Poland writes the communities of interest criteria sounds like segregation. 3. Carol G., President CEO of Choctaw Chamber of Commerce • Small towns are split between several districts. Please keep Nicoma Park and Choctaw (HD 97 & 101) in one district on every level. Having more concentration of our elected officials helps us have better representation. Eastern OK County needs less community splits. 4. Jakky, Resident of Oklahoma County, representing League of Women Voters • Gerrymandering is usually used to quiet the voice of the people; we should use gerrymandering to enhance the voice of the people. Attended the People’s Not Politician training and asked if there was a training regarding the software that the legislature is using to redraw the lines. 5. Jonathon K., Resident of Edmond, OK • Heard a rumor that Oklahoma County is going to receive two additional House seats and would like to know where are they going and how are we going to maintain 101 House seats? 2 | P a g e 6. Robert H., Resident of Edmond, OK • Will there be an interactive map for public to see plans? How is the census data received? Where can I get block level data? 7. Marybel C., Resident of Edmond, OK • Why are certain congressional district so large in size compared to others? How can we make sure that districts are drawn appropriately? There is a clear distinction between West Edmond and the Village, and I would like to see that distinction maintained. 8. Robbie W., question submitted via email • Asked to view the map on the easel (population change map by House district). Staff emailed map following the meeting and uploaded the map to the HRO website. 9. Scott H., question submitted via email • Why are we staying at 101 House districts? Is there a reason that district numbers cannot be sequential for neighboring districts? In follow-up email, Scott writes, I don't have an issue with the 101...it just seems like an odd number. Seems we could streamline the numbering system and make district numbers more meaningful. For example: All OKC district are 1-22, all Tulsa districts are 23-35, NW ok is 35 to ?, etc. Just some definition of the numbers would be a good thing. Staff notes: There is a 1971 Attorney General’s opinion concerning the maximum number of members of the Oklahoma House may have, which suggests 99, 100 or 101 districts is an acceptable number based on a 1964 court case, Reynolds v. State Election Board. Historical records show there have been 101 House districts since the 34th Legislature (1973-1974). 10. Jonathon C., resident of Edmond, OK • Oklahoma County could be its own congressional district. We should make sure that we don’t engage in political gerrymandering. What’s preventing you from using political data in redistricting? Staff notes: Please see table for estimated population growth by congressional district and other factors. Political data such as election returns and voter registration data is not part of the House’s redistricting database. Population Ideal 2011 2019 Population Growth District Deviation % Growth Population Estimate (2010-2019) Population from Ideal (2010-2019) CD1 750,270 801,857 51,587 786,574 15,283 6.88% CD2 750,270 748,847 (1,423) 786,574 (37,727) -0.19% CD3 750,270 778,159 27,889 786,574 (8,415) 3.72% CD4 750,270 786,723 36,453 786,574 149 4.86% CD5 750,271 817,284 67,013 786,574 30,710 8.93% 3 | P a g e Tulsa House Redistricting Town Hall Date & Time: December 10, 2020, 7:00 p.m. (41 minute runtime) Recording available: https://okhouse.gov/Video/Default.aspx Location: Tulsa Technology Center-Riverside Campus, Auditorium, 801 E 91st Street, Tulsa, OK 74132 Host: Rep. Sheila Dills (HD 69) and Rep. Monroe Nichols (HD 72), Chair and Vice-Chair, Tulsa County Subcommittee Members Present: Representatives Dills, Nichols, Boatman, Rogers, O’Donnell, May, Davis; Senator Rader Estimated Attendance: 27 Questions and comments from the public: 1. Mike W., resident of Tulsa • Can you talk about congressional districts that will be drawn? 2. Alvin O., resident of Tulsa • How do you plan to manage public input received at town halls? Can you talk about the guidelines used for redistricting and whether those criteria are ranked? The voting distance for some precincts in Washington County are too large. 3. Tommy Y, resident of Tulsa • Neighborhood lines change more than district lines, why are some districts still relatively the same shape over time, referencing HD 99 from the PPT as an example? 4. Terry F., resident of Jenks • What is the software you are using for redistricting? Who draws the precinct lines? How are precincts numbered? Staff note: Tulsa County election staff was in attendance and clarified they have the authority to renumber precincts. 5. Michael A., resident of Jenks • What kind of public information should we expect between the end of the public meetings and when the legislation enacts plans for redistricting? I really like the way my House district (68) is shaped. Staff notes: Follow up comment not on recording. I would be better represented by somebody who also represents a more urban/suburban area rather than somebody that represents a largely exurban/rural area. Please keep precinct 420 in Creek County (Jenks precinct) in a district that has urban/suburban leanings as it currently is. Asked that the same be considered for any Senate plan (i.e SD 37). 4 | P a g e McAlester House Redistricting Town Hall Date & Time: December 16, 2020, 6:30 p.m. (31 minutes runtime) Recording available: https://okhouse.gov/Video/Default.aspx Location: JI Stipes Center, 801 N. 9th Street, McAlester, OK 74501 Host: Rep. Randy Randleman (HD 15) and Rep. Jim Grego (HD 17), Chair and Vice-Chair, Southeast Oklahoma Subcommittee Members Present: Representatives Frix, Randleman, Grego, Smith Estimated Attendance: 14 Questions and comments from the public: 1. John B., Mayor of McAlester • I would like McAlester to remain split between two districts (HD 17 & HD 18). 2. Rep. Jim Grego, House District 17 • How are county commissioner districts drawn? 3. Resident of McAlester • How does the census avoid double counting you (i.e. vacation homes, vacant homes, second homes)? 5 | P a g e Lane House Redistricting Town Hall Date & Time: January 5, 2021, 6:30 p.m. (35 minutes runtime) Recording available: https://okhouse.gov/Video/Default.aspx Location: Bill Coben Community Center, 650 S Iron Stob Rd, Lane, OK 74555 Host: Rep. Randy Randleman (HD 15), Southeast Oklahoma Subcommittee Chair, and Rep. J.J.