Let’s add more independents to the AIRC

Every ten years Arizona remaps its legislative and congressional districts, based on the latest census data.  

In 2011, many Republicans in Arizona were convinced that the Democrats had gamed the system in their favor. The current remapping is getting the same complaints, but this time from Democrats who are convinced that the Republicans rigged the process. 

Making the system work so that people of both parties, and independents, have greater trust in the system is achievable, and this is the time to do it. Changes to the Arizona Constitution take time, and the next ten years will pass quickly.  

We have observed the Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) three times now, and we are recommending two major improvements based on our experiences. The reforms we suggest also address the specific complaints that partisans and

independents have had over the past two decades. 

First, we should increase the number of commissioners to nine from five, seating three independents, three Republicans and three Democrats. The chair will still be an independent chosen by the other commissioners.  

Crucially, having three independents will make it more difficult for the political parties or the incumbent governor to manipulate the choice of the tie-breaking chairperson of a five-member body, which is a criticism of the present system. Having a greater number of independents has worked better in other states, such as Michigan. That commission has 13 commissioners, five of whom are independents with four each from each major party.   

Expanding the AIRC is also fairer to the increasing number and variety of registered independents in Arizona. 

The second change involves the role of the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, which normally ensures that Arizona’s courts have competent and ethical judges. Currently, it has a two-part role in building the AIRC: to make sure applicants seeking to serve on the redistricting panel meet the constitutionally prescribed qualifications and to narrow down the number of applicants to a smaller list, to be chosen from by the leaders of the House and the Senate. 

Unfortunately, the use of the appellate commission inadvertently creates a temptation for a governor to try to stack that panel in order to influence the redistricting picks. That appellate commission’s role in redistricting should be changed to only vetting the AIRC applicants to assure that they meet the requirements of the Constitution. 

Unfortunately, the use of the appellate commission inadvertently creates a temptation for a governor to try to stack that panel in order to influence the redistricting picks.

Let the leaders of the House and Senate pick the Democratic and Republican commissioners from all of the vetted applicants. Then, as is done now, those newly appointed commissioners must agree on who will serve as the independent members.  

These two simple reforms will go a long way to make Arizona’s a more tamper-proof redistricting process. By acting soon, the Arizona Legislature could refer these constitutional changes to Arizona voters in plenty of time for the next go-round. 

Ken Clark is a former Democratic state representative who served 6 years in the Legislature. 

Bart Turner is a life-long Republican, current member of the Glendale City Council and a co-author of the amendment to the state Constitution which created the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.