Provide input on plans

Written comments may be sent to the Clerk’s Office by email to board.clerk@hennepin.us.

Public comment was heard on the county’s process and/or proposed plan(s) at public hearings on April 12, 2022 in committee and April 19, 2022 in a board meeting. 

April 26 special board meeting

On Tuesday, April 26, at 1:30 p.m., Hennepin County officials will hold a special meeting for final approval of the 2022 redistricting plan.

• View the Notice of Special Meeting (PDF)
• 2022 Proposed Redistricting Plan (PDF)
• Revised Board Action Request 22-0146 R2 (PDF)

During the board meeting, members of the public may comment on the redistricting plan during open forum. For details on providing comment during open forum or to watch the live meeting, visit hennepin.us/boardmeetings. 

April 19 board meeting and public hearing materials

• Revised Board Action Request 22-0146 R1 (PDF)
• Watch the recording of the April 19 public hearing

April 12 committee meeting and public hearing materials

• Board Action Request 22-0146 - Adoption of 2022 Redistricting Plan
• Proposed plan - April 12, 2022
• Watch the recording of the April 12 public hearing

Plan submission

Members of the public were able to submit their own proposed plans to the Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on April 15, 2022. Public comments and plans submitted were shared with the County Board for consideration.

Data

Members of the public may access the data the County will use for redistricting by requesting either an electronic or a printed copy by contacting board.clerk@hennepin.us. The data (which is based on the precinct lines drawn by cities and towns) will be posted as soon as possible after precinct lines are drawn and received by the county.

After each census, district boundaries are redrawn to determine which politicians represent us. 

• Watch the recorded session from April 5, 2022

Event included: 

• Remarks from Hennepin County Board Chair Marion Greene
• Presentation on census results from the Metropolitan Council
• Presentation on redistricting process, priorities and principals from Rice, Walther & Mosely
• Q&A 

February 15

Boundaries

• US House of Representatives
• MN Senate and House

Created by

• MN Legislature, or the courts if the legislature cannot agree on a new map

March 22

• County board meeting will have redistricting principles on the agenda for adoption

March 29

Boundaries

• Municipal wards (in municipalities where the council is elected by district)
• Municipal precincts (all municipalities)

Created by

• Each municipality

April 12

• Public hearing on redistricting plan in committee meeting. Meeting information will be posted at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.

April 19

• Public hearing on redistricting plan in board meeting. Meeting information will be posted at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.

April 26

Boundaries

• Park board/district (created by Minneapolis Charter Commission and Three Rivers Park District)
• School districts, if board members are elected by district (created by each school board)
• County Commissioners (created by Hennepin County and approved by Board of Commissioners)
  • County Board adopts redistricting plan in special board meeting. Meeting information will be posted at hennepin.us/boardmeetings.

May 17–31

• Candidate filing period for offices with a potential primary

August 9

• State Primary Election

November 8

• State General Election

Commissioner district map

District 1

• 182,910 – 2020 census
• 164,758 – 2012 redistricting

District 2

179,961 – 2020 census
• 165,424 – 2012 redistricting

District 3

• 178,226 – 2020 census
• 161,135 – 2012 redistricting

District 4

• 187,909 – 2020 census
• 163,845 – 2012 redistricting

District 5

• 174,933 – 2020 census
• 163,605 – 2012 redistricting

District 6

• 180,813 – 2020 census
• 165,946 – 2012 redistricting

District 7

• 196,813 – 2020 census
• 167,712 – 2012 redistricting

Total 2020 population

• 1,281,565

Total 2010 population

• 1,152,425

Once available, the County Auditor sends the newly drawn state legislative and congressional redistricting plans to the municipalities within Hennepin County. The municipalities will have until March 29 to redraw or re-establish precinct boundaries and polling places.

The county board establishes new commissioner districts once municipalities have completed their redistricting duties. The board has until April 26 to complete this work.

The County Auditor will update the Statewide Voter Registration System to reflect the newly established districts and precinct boundaries. This will ensure that all voters are voting in their correct precinct. Voters will be notified on this change by a post-card mailing to all registered voters, through social media and from local news media outreach.

Proposed 2022 County Board Actions

• February 24 – Board briefing
• March 8 – County board adopts redistricting process
• March 15 – Draft redistricting principles available to public and heard in committee
• March 22 – County board adopts redistricting principles
• March 29 – Deadline to establish boundaries of municipal precincts (including Fort Snelling completed by the Hennepin County Board)
• April 12 – Public hearing on redistricting plan in committee
• April 19 – Public hearing on redistricting plan in board meeting
• April 26 – County Board adopts redistricting plan in special board meeting

In redistricting the seven Hennepin County Board districts, the Board shall be guided by the following principles:

1. Equal Population. County Commissioner districts shall be as nearly equal in population as possible. The ideal population for each district shall be determined by dividing the total population of the County by the number of districts (7). The 2020 population of the County totals 1,281,567. As a result, the ideal population of each district is 183,081. State law allows population variances of up to ten percent (10%) from the average for all districts in the county. 
2. Census Data. In determining population for each district, the County shall use 2020 census data as provided by the United States Census Bureau.
3. Geographic Units. Pursuant to state law, the County shall use the precinct boundaries as determined by the cities, towns, or the County for any unorganized territory as the primary unit in creating each district.
4. Voting Rights. The County will comply with the provisions of the United States Constitution, Federal Voting Rights Act, and all applicable federal and state law. Commissioner districts shall not be drawn with either the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the voting rights of any United States citizen on account of race, ethnicity, or membership in a language minority group and must 
   otherwise comply with the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, 52 U.S.C. §§ 10301 et seq. (2018).
5. Contiguity and Compactness. Each district shall consist of contiguous territory and shall be as regular and compact in form as practicable, depending upon the geography of the county. Contiguity by water is sufficient if the body of water does not pose a serious obstacle to travel within a district.
6. Political Subdivisions. Commissioner districts shall be bounded by town, municipal, ward or precinct lines. Where practicable, the County shall follow the boundaries of established political subdivisions. Generally, a city or town should not be divided into more than one district except as necessary to meet equal population requirements or to form districts composed of contiguous territory.
7. Communities of Interest. Where possible in compliance with the preceding principles, the districts should attempt to preserve communities of interest and maintain historical alignments of 
   communities in each district. For purposes of this principle, “communities of interest” include, but are not limited to, political subdivisions, neighborhoods, or other geographic areas where there are already recognizable historic or current similarities of social, political, cultural, ethnic, or economic interests.
8. Public Input and Understanding. Within statutory timelines, the County will be transparent with the public about its actions to establish the redistricting process, principles, and the new commissioner district map. The County will offer opportunities for public comment and input throughout the redistricting process. In its resolution adopting the redistricting map, the County Board will set forth the rationale behind the adopted plan.