WASHINGTON STATE CONSTITUTION:
SECTION 43 REDISTRICTING

Continuity of government act: Chapter 42.14 RCW.

SECTION 43 REDISTRICTING. (1) In January of each year ending

in one, a commission shall be established to provide for the

redistricting of state legislative and congressional districts.

(2) The commission shall be composed of five members to be

selected as follows: The legislative leader of the two largest

political parties in each house of the legislature shall appoint

one voting member to the commission by January 15th of each year

ending in one. By January 31st of each year ending in one, the

four appointed members, by an affirmative vote of at least three,

shall appoint the remaining member. The fifth member of the

commission, who shall be nonvoting, shall act as its chairperson.

If any appointing authority fails to make the required appointment

by the date established by this subsection, within five days after

that date the supreme court shall make the required appointment.

(3) No elected official and no person elected to legislative

district, county, or state political party office may serve on the

commission. A commission member shall not have been an

elected official and shall not have been an elected legislative

district, county, or state political party officer within two years of his

or her appointment to the commission. The provisions of this

subsection do not apply to the office of precinct committee person.

(4) The legislature shall enact laws providing for the

implementation of this section, to include additional

qualifications for commissioners and additional standards to

govern the commission. The legislature shall appropriate funds to

enable the commission to carry out its duties.

(5) Each district shall contain a population, excluding

nonresident military personnel, as nearly equal as practicable to

the population of any other district. To the extent reasonable,

each district shall contain contiguous territory, shall be compact

and convenient, and shall be separated from adjoining districts by

natural geographic barriers, artificial barriers, or political

subdivision boundaries. The commission's plan shall not provide

for a number of legislative districts different than that

established by the legislature. The commission's plan shall not

be drawn purposely to favor or discriminate against any political

party or group.

(6) The commission shall complete redistricting as soon as

possible following the federal decennial census, but no later than

January 1st of each year ending in two. At least three of the

voting members shall approve such a redistricting plan. If three

of the voting members of the commission fail to approve a plan

within the time limitations provided in this subsection, the

supreme court shall adopt a plan by April 30th of the year ending

in two in conformance with the standards set forth in subsection

(5) of this section.

(7) The legislature may amend the redistricting plan but must do

so by a two-thirds vote of the legislators elected or appointed to

each house of the legislature. Any amendment must have passed

both houses by the end of the thirtieth day of the first session

convened after the commission has submitted its plan to the

legislature. After that day, the plan, with any legislative

amendments, constitutes the state districting law.

(8) The legislature shall enact laws providing for the

reconvening of a commission for the purpose of modifying a

districting law adopted under this section. Such reconvening

requires a two-thirds vote of the legislators elected or appointed

to each house of the legislature. The commission shall conform to

the standards prescribed under subsection (5) of this section and

any other standards or procedures that the legislature may provide

by law. At least three of the voting members shall approve such a

modification. Any modification adopted by the commission may be

amended by a two-thirds vote of the legislators elected and

appointed to each house of the legislature. The state districting

law shall include the modifications with amendments, if any.

(9) The legislature shall prescribe by law the terms of

commission members and the method of filling vacancies on the

commission.

(10) The supreme court has original jurisdiction to hear and

decide all cases involving congressional and legislative

redistricting.

(11) Legislative and congressional districts may not be changed

or established except pursuant to this section. A districting plan

and any legislative amendments to the plan are not subject to

Article III, section 12 of this Constitution. [AMENDMENT 74, 1983

Substitute Senate Joint Resolution No. 103, p 2202. Approved

November 8, 1983.]

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