Proposed Oklahoma Congressional Redistricting Map Unveiled

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives have unveiled a proposed congressional redistricting map for the state of Oklahoma.

"The proposed congressional redistricting plan adheres to the basic principles outlined when we began this process," said House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee. "It does not needlessly divide communities of interest, it protects the rights of citizens, and it is carefully constructed to ensure each district has equal population."

House Bill 1527 creates the "Oklahoma Congressional Redistricting Act of 2011."

According to the 2010 Census, Oklahoma's total population is 3,751,351; therefore, each of the state's five congressional districts should have approximately 750,270 people.

The proposed map makes only minor modifications to the current congressional lines while meeting the population goals specified by federal law.

• Congressional District 1 would be composed of Tulsa, Wagoner, and Washington counties, as well as portions of Creek and Rogers counties, totaling 750,270 people.
• Congressional District 2 would be composed of Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coal, Craig, Delaware, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, LeFlore, Marshall, Mayes, McCurtain, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, and Sequoyah counties, and a majority of Rogers County, totaling 750,270 people.
• Congressional District 3 would be composed of Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Greer, Harmon, Harper, Jackson, Kay, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Lincoln, Logan, Major, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Payne, Roger Mills, Texas, Washita, Woods, and Woodward Counties, and a majority of Canadian and Creek counties, totaling 750,270 people.
• Congressional District 4 would be composed of Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Jefferson, Love, McClain, Murray, Pontotoc, Stephens, and Tillman counties, and portions of Canadian and Oklahoma Counties, totaling 750,270 people.
• Congressional District 5 would be composed of Pottawatomie and Seminole counties, and a majority of Oklahoma County, totaling 750,271 people.

Members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation praised the plan.

"I salute the Oklahoma state House and Senate leadership for coming to a swift and sensible solution on redistricting," said U.S. Rep. John Sullivan.

"The redistricting process undertaken by the state Legislature has been fair and without controversy. The state's congressional delegation, led by Congressman Frank Lucas, and the leadership of the state Legislature have worked together throughout the entire process in a bipartisan way," said U.S. Representative Dan Boren, a Democrat.

View state House Bill 1527.