Redistricting Plans public comment period ends this week

The public comment period on redistricting plans for Arkansas house and senate districts will end this week. The State Board of Apportionment, which consists of the governor, attorney general & secretary of state, is to meet Monday, November 29th and make the proposed maps official. If approved as presented, the Nashville area will see significant changes in representation on the state level. As proposed, the senate district will be known as District 4 and include all of Howard, Sevier, Little River and Miller counties…along with areas of western Hempstead county that includes Bingen, Clow, Columbus, McNab and Fulton.

For Pike County, the proposal will split the county in two districts. Communities such as Glenwood, Kirby, Daisy and Newhope would be in Senate District 5 that also includes Mena, Mt. Ida, Waldron and Perryville. Areas in southern Pike County will be district 3 that would put Murfreesboro and Delight in with other towns including Hope, Arkadelphia, Magnolia, Prescott, and Lewisville.

With the proposed state house of representative changes, Howard County will be split into three districts. Nashville, Mineral Springs and other areas of southern Howard County will be placed into House District 88, which also includes most of Hempstead County…and areas of northern Miller County, outside the city of Texarkana.
The Dierks area will continue being included with all of Sevier and Little River counties in District 87…while other rural sections of Howard County..including Center Point, Umpire, Muddy Fork and Athens will be in District 86 that also includes all of Polk and Montgomery counties.
For Pike county, the entire county is expected to be placed into House District 89. That district also includes the towns of Pearcy, Bonnerdale, Arkadelphia, and Prescott.

The changes are based on equal population following the latest census results, which show all southwest Arkansas losing population.