Legislative redistricting commission headed to four days of meetings next week

The New Jersey Legislative Apportionment Commission has scheduled meetings next week as tiebreaker Philip Carchman seeks to a map before the March 1 deadline to approve a map redrawing New Jersey’s 40 legislative districts.

The Office of Legislative Services has booked rooms at a Plainsboro hotel for Tuesday through Friday, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.

Carchman, who has been out of state for the last month and attending hearings virtually, will return to New Jersey on Sunday.

Both parties, at Carchman’s request, submitted the first versions of their maps on Sunday and they were released to the public on Monday afternoon.  Public hearings were held on Wednesday and Friday of this week to obtain feedback on the maps.

The next step will likely be a second submission by Democrats and Republicans.

The timeline is not clear.  Carchman could ask both parties for a best and final early in the week or allow for some negotiation.

Based on statements made at today’s public hearing, it doesn’t appear that there will be another opportunity for comment.  It will be up to Carchman to decide if he wants to me best and final maps available to the public before a vote, something that was not done during the congressional redistricting process.

One indication of Carchman’s intent to hold marathon meetings is that OLS has placed food orders for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.  During congressional redistricting, tiebreaker John E. Wallace, Jr. was out the door by dusk.

It’s also not clear how much of a role the embattled Princeton Gerrymandering Group will play in legislative redistricting, but the NJ Globe has confirmed that they remain as advisors to Carchman.