Linn supervisors to make next redistricting move

CEDAR RAPIDS - The next move in Linn County's suddenly contentious redistricting process comes Thursday, when supervisors convene for the official canvassing of Tuesday's election results.

Supervisors met Wednesday morning and decided to use the canvassing session to take official action on Tuesday's vote by the redistricting commission to re-submit their initial map, already rejected by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz, to the supervisors.

That move was in protest to Schultz's rejection of the commission map because it doesn't split Cedar Rapids into three districts, the fewest possible under the state's formula. The commissioners put parts of the city into four districts, including one with a rural majority, in an effort to keep districts compact and to give rural voters a chance at putting two rural supervisors on the board.

Supervisors now have the authority to either accept the initial map, triggering a legal battle with the state, to accept a proposal drawn by the Legislative Services Agency, or to draw another map meeting Schultz's requirements. Either of the last two will mean three tightly-drawn Cedar Rapids districts, a third dominated by Marion voters, and a single large rural district encircling the county.

The canvass session is at 3 p.m. at Linn County West in Westdale Mall.