Mississippi redistricting hearings draw calls for transparency

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) -Voting-rights advocates are calling for greater transparency as Mississippi lawmakers begin holding public hearings on potential new legislative, judicial and congressional maps.

Amir Badat of Fair Fight Action said the state is not legally required to act. “Callais does not require Mississippi to redistrict. Nothing in the decision says Mississippi has to redraw its lines before the next census. Nothing,” Badat said.

Concerns about the process

Sen. Johnny Dupree, a Democrat, said advocates are worried the hearings could amount to little more than a formality. “We have no maps. So where are we? It gives us the impression that decisions have already been made and we’re checking boxes, that we’re crossing T’s, that we’re dotting I’s when things have already been determined. What we’re asking for is transparency,” Dupree said.

The House Select Committee on Redistricting met Monday to hear an overview of the process. A separate joint committee is expected to ultimately handle the map-drawing. Dr. Dallas Breen of the Stennis Institute of Government described the scope of the work. “Quite frankly, the task is monumental for every state, but for Mississippi, it’s even bigger because we have unique population shifts,” Breen said.

Committee roles and next steps

Rep. Noah Sanford, a Republican and co-chair of the House Select Committee on Redistricting, said his panel is functioning as a study committee — not the body that will draw new lines. He said that responsibility falls to the joint redistricting committee, which plans to hold hearings around the state.

“We may have another hearing just to hear sort of more of what we did today in detail about considerations of redistricting, but the meat of the work will be in the joint committee,” Sanford said.

Sanford said lawmakers will likely use the state’s most recent maps as their starting point. “I don’t anticipate major changes,” he said.

The joint committee’s first public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18. Gov. Tate Reeves has indicated he may call lawmakers into special session before the 2027 regular session begins.

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