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RESEARCH CORNER
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Last days of the special session
Officials send congressional map, COVID-19 exemptions to Governor.
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Story by JORDYN NYKAZA AAC Law Clerk
fter meeting from January to April 2021, state legislators returned to the Capitol this fall. Their main task was to draw new boundaries for Arkansas’ four congressional districts, but they also discussed COVID-19 vaccination mandates and exemptions, and more. The legislature met for 108 days earlier in the year before going into extended recess. Census numbers, used in the redistricting process, were delayed this decennial. Thus, the extended session of the 93rd General Assembly did not convene until Sept. 29. In addition to redistricting, legislators focused their attention on COVID-19 mandates. Both the House and the Senate maintain an archive of meetings on their websites for constituents to watch. However, here is a recap of the 2021 extended legislative session.
Redistricting
Every 10 years, after Census data has been released by the federal government, the state legislature is tasked with redraw22
ing Arkansas’ congressional districts. Redistricting is not as simple as keeping counties together and separating them based on location for congressional district maps. Redistricting is a formal process with rules stipulated by the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Arkansas constitution. Although it is not always popular to split a single county into multiple congressional districts, it is sometimes necessary to equally split the Arkansas population among all four congressional districts. Under Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, congressional representatives are to be apportioned to the states based on population. The equal population requirement for congressional districts is strict, as the government wants to ensure the people of each state are equally represented and their vote has as much weight in any congressional district. Under Arkansas’ state constitution, we use a Legislature dominant method to congressional redistricting. This means the legislature has ultimate authority to enact district maps, as opposed to some states that allow a commission, or a commission and the state legislature both to have authority over district maps.
Overall bills presented
During the extended session legislators proposed 93 bills — 61 COUNTY LINES, FALL 2021
