FAQs

This page lists frequently asked questions related to the Citizen Redistricting Committee. If this page doesn’t contain the information you’re looking for, please contact Committee staff at crc@state.nm.us. 

The Basics

Q: What is redistricting?

Redistricting is the process of redrawing the geographical boundaries that correspond to certain elected offices. For example, all US House Representatives represent specific geographical areas of a state. This is the same for state legislators and many local elected officials. As districts are redrawn, both the area and the set of people that each elected representative represents change.

Q: Why do we need to redraw districts?

Redistricting follows the decennial census. As populations grow, shrink, or move around, districts must be redrawn so that each district contains approximately the same number of people, supporting the constitutional bedrock requirement of one person, one vote.

Q: What is the Citizen Redistricting Committee?

The Citizen Redistricting Committee is tasked to develop and propose district maps for New Mexico’s Congressional delegation, the New Mexico Senate, the New Mexico House of Representatives, and the Public Education Commission.  The Committee will base its work on information and maps that New Mexicans submit.  To view a copy of the Redistricting Act, click here.

Q: When did the CRC begin meeting?

The Redistricting Act went into effect on July 1, 2021.  The CRC held its first meeting on July 2, 2021, and will meet across the state through the summer and autumn of 2021.

Sign up to receive meeting updates.

Click here to view upcoming and past meetings.

Q: What will the CRC discuss at its public meetings?

During the first seven public meetings, the CRC will hear testimony and receive proposed maps from communities, groups, and individuals.  After these first seven meetings, the CRC will publish their proposed district plans and, then, conduct another set of (at minimum six) meetings around the state so that the public can comment on the CRC’s proposed maps or submit alternate maps.  After this second set of meetings, the CRC will submit its final set of proposed district plans, along with written evaluations, to the state legislature.

Q: What is the CRC’s timeline to propose district plans?

Under the Redistricting Act, the CRC must provide its set of proposed district plans to the state legislature by October 30, 2021, or as soon as possible thereafter. As such, all public meetings must be conducted between July 1, 2021, and October 30, 2021. The Committee’s current meeting schedule is as follows:

The Committee

Q: Who appoints the members of the Citizen Redistricting Committee?

The seven-member CRC is comprised of four members appointed by the Legislature and three members appointed by the State Ethics Commission.  The Speaker of the House, the Minority Floor Leader in the House, the President Pro Tempore, and the Minority Floor Leader in the Senate each appoint a member. The State Ethics Commission appoints the Chair of the Committee, who must be a retired Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court or a retired Court of Appeals Judge, and members who cannot be affiliated with either major political party.

Q: Who are the CRC’s current Committee members?

Click here to view a list of the CRC’s current committee members.

Q: Can I apply to be a member of the CRC?

During the spring of 2021, the State Ethics Commission solicited applications for its three appointees.  The application period to serve as committee member has closed and the Commission made its appointments in June 2021.  

Q: How can I stay updated on Committee activities?

You can stay updated on Committee activities, including notifications of upcoming meetings and events by subscribing to the Committee’s updates list. Information on upcoming meetings and events will also be posted on the Committee’s website at www.nmredistricting.org and Twitter @NMRedistricting.

All Committee meeting materials, including meeting notices, minutes and agendas, are made available in the Meetings and Transparency page of this website.

Q: Where can I watch CRC meetings?

All CRC meetings are live-streamed and available for public viewing here. Links to view the livestream are also posted on this website on the Meetings and Transparency page.

Details on how to view or attend upcoming Committee meetings are contained within each public meeting notice document posted on the Meetings and Transparency page of this website.  To view recordings of past Committee meetings, please visit the Meetings and Transparency page of this website or the Citizen Redistricting Committee’s YouTube channel.

Q: Where can I view Committee meeting materials?

All Committee meeting materials, including meeting notices, agendas, minutes and public comment submissions, are posted for public viewing on the Meetings and Transparency page of this website.

Q: How can I contact the Committee?

To submit a map or public comment to the Committee, please visit the Committee’s Public Comment page.

For hand deliveries of maps, written public testimony, or other redistricting materials, please visit the CRC’s office at:
5121 Masthead N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87109.  

Creating District Maps

Q: When will the map drawing phase of the Committee occur?

The Committee will receive maps and information from the public during at least six public meetings, starting on August 2, 2021, at Room 307 in the Capitol through August 15, 2021. The Committee will then travel the state, holding at least six public meetings in Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Farmington, Roswell, Las Cruces, Española as well as on tribal lands, for the purpose of receiving public testimony on communities of interest and other aspects of redistricting.  After these initial meetings, the Committee will draw and publish proposed maps and, then, hold at least six more public meetings to receive public comment on the Committee’s proposed maps.  After the final six meetings, the Committee will finalize its maps and submit them to the Legislature.

Q: What data will the Committee use to create the maps?

The Committee will use data including data from the federal Census Bureau, citizen input, and any other reliable sources of data (as determined by majority vote of the Committee members) to determine district lines and develop district plans.

Q: What criteria will the Committee use to create district maps?

The Redistricting Act outlines the specific criteria the Committee must utilize when proposing and adopting a redistricting plan. To view a copy of the Redistricting Act, click here.

Q: Does the Committee have rules of procedure?

Yes! Click here to read the CRC’s rules of procedure.

Q: What is a community of interest?

The Redistricting Act defines “Community of interest” as a contiguous population that shares common economic, social, or cultural interests.

Q: How can I provide suggestions or feedback to the Committee?

The public has the right to address the Citizen Redistricting Committee, and the Committee welcomes the public’s maps and comments.  Maps and written public comment may be submitted to the Committee though the CRC’s online public comment form, by email to crc@state.nm.us, in person at the Committee’s offices at 1521 Masthead St. NE, 2nd Floor, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, or live during any meeting or hearing of the Committee.

Details on how to provide live or written public comment for each meeting or hearing are contained within the public meeting notice for each event additional details are within the CRC’s rules of procedure. Meeting notices are available at the Meetings and Transparency page of this website.

Q: How do I know my written public comment was received by the Committee?

After you submit a map or public comment to the Committee through the CRC’s online portal, you will be able to view your comment or map in the “Gallery” of the online portal.  You will also be able to comment on other’s testimony or maps, and read others’ comments on your maps or testimony.

Q: How will the Committee inform the public about its redistricting plans?

Before proposing a redistricting plan, the Committee must hold at least six public hearings throughout the state for the purpose of informing the public about the redistricting process and for soliciting information from the public about potential plans.

Once the Committee produces proposed redistricting plans for each type of district, the plans will be made available to the public for review and feedback.  Those plans will be made available on the CRC’s online portal.  After the Committee issues its proposed maps, an additional 6 public meetings must then be held by the Committee for the purpose of soliciting feedback from the public.

The dates, times and locations of statewide meetings held by the Committee will be posted on the Meetings and Transparency page as details are finalized.

Q: Where can I view a map of New Mexico’s current electoral district lines?

You can view the state’s current districts for U.S. Congress, the state House, State Senate, and Public Education Commission at the following link. 

Q: How will a final plan be selected by the Committee?

Following the publication of the Committee’s initial proposed district plans the Committee will hold an additional six public meetings for the purpose of receiving public feedback on the proposed district plans. After any revisions made in response to public feedback received, the Committee will hold a final meeting for the purpose of adopting the final district plans to be proposed to the state Legislature.

Q: When are the Committee’s plans due to the Legislature?

On October 30, 2021, or as soon as practicable thereafter.