1.1A Senate concurrent resolution
1.2relating to elections; establishing districting principles for legislative and
1.3congressional plans.
1.4BE IT RESOLVED, by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that a plan for redistricting
1.5seats in the Legislature or the United States House of Representatives must adhere to the
1.6following principles:
1.7(1) [NUMBER OF DISTRICTS.] (a) The senate must be composed of 67 members and the
1.8house of representatives must be composed of 134 members. Each senate district is entitled to
1.9elect one senator and each house district is entitled to elect one representative.
1.10(b) A plan for congressional districts must have eight districts, each entitled to elect a
1.11single member.
1.12(2) [NESTING.] A representative district may not be divided in the formation of a senate
1.13district.
1.14(3) [EQUAL POPULATION.] (a) Legislative districts must be substantially equal in
1.15population. The population of a legislative district must not deviate from the ideal by more than
1.16two percent, plus or minus.
1.17(b) Congressional districts must be as nearly equal in population as practicable.
1.18(4) [CONTIGUITY; COMPACTNESS.] The districts must be composed of convenient
1.19contiguous territory structured into compact units. Contiguity by water is sufficient. Territory that
1.20touches only at a point is not contiguous, unless the territory is within the same city or town.
2.1(5) [NUMBERING.] (a) The legislative districts must be numbered in a regular series,
2.2beginning with house district 1A in the northwest corner of the state and proceeding across the
2.3state from west to east, north to south, but bypassing the seven-county metropolitan area until
2.4the southeast corner has been reached; then to the seven-county metropolitan area outside the
2.5counties of Hennepin and Ramsey; then in Hennepin and finally in Ramsey.
2.6(b) The congressional district numbers must begin with district one in the southeast corner
2.7of the state and end with the district with the highest number in the northeast corner of the state.
2.8(6) [MINORITY REPRESENTATION.] The districts must not dilute the voting strength of
2.9racial or language minority populations. Where a concentration of a racial or language minority
2.10makes it possible and it can be done in compliance with the other principles in this section, the
2.11districts must increase the probability that members of the minority will be elected.
2.12(7) [PRESERVING POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.] A county, city, or town must not be
2.13divided into more than one district except as necessary to meet equal population requirements
2.14or to form districts that are composed of convenient, contiguous, and compact territory. When
2.15a county, city, or town must be divided into more than one district, it should be divided into
2.16as few districts as possible.
2.17(8) [COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.] The districts should attempt to preserve
2.18communities of interest where that can be done in compliance with the preceding principles. For
2.19purposes of this principle, "communities of interest" include, but are not limited to, geographic
2.20areas where there are clearly recognizable similarities of social, political, cultural, ethnic, or
2.21economic interests, or that are linked by common transportation or communication.
2.22(9) [INCUMBENTS.] The districts must not be drawn for the purpose of protecting
2.23or defeating an incumbent.