State Rep. Baird invites public to attend redistricting meetings

Beau Baird

State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) invites constituents to weigh in on Indiana’s redistricting process during upcoming public meetings.

“Redistricting affects all Hoosiers,” Baird said. “I hope citizens take advantage of these meetings and engage in the process.”

Indiana is required to redraw its districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Indiana House of Representatives and Indiana Senate following the nationwide census every 10 years. Before legislators are expected to return to the Statehouse in mid-to-late September to redraw the district boundaries, public meetings will be held in each of Indiana’s nine congressional districts.

Baird said Hoosiers can attend any of the nine public meetings in early August. The nearest meetings to West Central Indiana are 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 6 at the Ivy Tech campus in Lafayette and 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11 in the House Chamber at the Indiana Statehouse.

Campus meeting room information will be updated on the Indiana General Assembly’s website at iga.in.gov/redistricting as it becomes available. Meetings will be livestreamed and archived at iga.in.gov. Visit IndianaHouseRepublicans.com/redistricting2021 to view the complete list of meeting dates and locations.

Census data is delayed due to the pandemic, but is expected to arrive on Aug. 16. Members of the public can also draw and submit their own maps for consideration by using an online portal with mapping software, which will be launched in late August.

State Rep. Baird represents House District 44, which includes all of Putnam County and portions of Clay, Morgan, Owen and Parke counties.