New districts to be drawn amid partisan divide

HELENA — New legislative districts will begin to take shape this week when a redistricting commission starts making tough votes amid partisan divide over proposed boundaries.

Republicans who have spent a decade complaining about alleged legislative gerrymandering say they are hoping for compromise when the redistricting commission starts drawing new House district lines.

The lead Democrat on the panel counters that the current map has been fair to both political parties. He is hoping to carry over aspects of it to the new plan.

The public will be able to comment on the final proposal before it goes to the legislature early next year. The panel can make adjustments after that, before submitting the final plan to the secretary of state so that election officials can use it for the 2014 elections.