Rep. Natalie Figueroa and Sen. Leo Jaramillo publish op-ed on SJR7

The following is an excerpt from the members' column for the Albuquerque Journal, OPINION: NM needs an independent redistricting commission with teeth.

"This session, we are working to establish a truly independent redistricting commission to increase public trust. We took a step in this direction with our first Citizens Redistricting Committee in 2021, but its work was not binding. Currently, the Legislature can accept or redraw the boundaries created by the committee. Allowing legislators to choose their own voters in this way is a blatant conflict of interest. Our Joint Resolution would make an independent redistricting process permanent and binding, ensuring that voters choose their legislators, not the other way around.

Our Joint Resolution would put the creation of this commission on the 2024 ballot for voter approval. This commission would have nine members, three from each of the two parties with the largest number of registered voters and three from unaffiliated or minor parties. Every 10 years, the secretary of state would mail out applications to 4% of a random selection of qualified electors proportional to party affiliation. The SOS could also accept applications from others interested. From those applications, 120 would be randomly selected to reflect the demographic and geographic diversity of N.M."

Read the full article HERE.