Process based on U.S. Census data, aligns boundaries with Congressional and State District maps

On Tuesday, Jan. 25, the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved new precinct maps created by the Clerk and Recorder’s Office. The maps incorporate new precinct identification numbers for most precincts and, in some cases, new boundaries. The maps also expand the County’s total number of precincts from 399 to 409.

Precinct and district maps are updated every 10 years. Precincts are limited to no more than 2,000 active voters each, necessitating additional boundary adjustments in precincts with voter counts near or over that threshold. First, the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions, created after the 2018 passage of Colorado Amendments Y and Z, draw new congressional and legislative boundaries based on United States Census data. Once those maps are approved by the Colorado Supreme Court, counties must ensure their precinct boundaries do not cross the new Congressional and State Senate and House District lines.

In its presentation to the Board, the Clerk and Recorder’s Office detailed ways the new maps will—and will not—affect voters beginning this year. The newly created maps will ensure precinct boundaries do not cross newly drawn district lines, and in some cases, split precincts based on voter counts.

Importantly, the process will not:

• Change where voters will cast their ballots in the June primary or November general elections
• Change representation by elected officials in 2022 for any voters
• Change County Commissioner district boundaries, or move any voters between such districts
• Update city council wards, school district or RTD director boundaries.

In its presentation, the Office also noted that, unlike the Colorado Commission’s process, County redistricting does not adjust precincts based on general population census counts, partisan affiliation, minority language populations, or other “communities of interest.”

“I want to commend our IT, mapping and Elections teams for all the thoughtfulness and hard work that went into this project,” said Clerk and Recorder Joan Lopez. “Arapahoe County voters can be confident these maps were adjusted with the sole purpose of maintaining fairness and transparency in our elections process.”

Other details regarding the new maps:

• 36 precincts had no changes numerically or geographically.
• 318 precincts had no physical geographic changes but require their full precinct identification number be changed due to a combination of a new U.S. Congressional, Colorado Senate and/or Colorado House district boundaries.
• 57 precincts were modified geographically. These were split apart from larger precincts, had parcels split from them, or had portions of other precincts merged into them.

New precinct maps are available for public viewing at ArapahoeVotes.com.