MT redistricting commission officially approves final map
HELENA, Mont. — The commission tasked with splitting Montana into two new congressional districts took their final vote to adopt a map Friday.
Districting and Apportionment Commission chair Maylinn Smith sided with the two Republican commissioners Friday morning, breaking a tie to advance the GOP map proposal.
The map places Helena in an eastern district and Bozeman in the west.
The commission voted to reverse an amendment made Tuesday. The amendment used the Blackfeet Reservation line as the boundary in Pondera County.
The map approved Friday was the original version of the CP 12 map.
Smith said this map is a compromise while still giving the best promise of politically competitive districts.
The map now moves to Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and will be in effect for the 2022 elections.
Montana gained a second U.S. House seat after the 2020 census.
