New Jersey Apportionment Commission
Welcome to the Apportionment
Commission's website, and thank you for your interest in the
legislative redistricting process in New Jersey.
As required by the New Jersey Constitution, the Apportionment
Commission is charged with redrawing the lines of the State's 40
legislative districts, from which the 40 Senators and 80 members of
the General Assembly are elected.
Legislative redistricting must be undertaken at the beginning of
each decade to account for population changes that occur during the
previous decade within the geographic boundaries of the State. The
purpose of redrawing the districts is to ensure equal democratic
representation among the members of the population as nearly as practicable.
Before the legislative redistricting process can begin, the federal
decennial census of the United States must be taken. The census
provides the raw demographic and geographic data from which
legislative districts are created. The United States Constitution
establishes the census as the basis for the apportionment of members
of the House of Representatives, but is silent as to the mechanics
of establishing legislative districts. Therefore, each state has its
own method of redrawing legislative boundaries at the start of each
decade.
In New Jersey, the redistricting map is created by the Apportionment Commission.
Initially, the Commission consists of 10 members appointed in equal numbers by
the chairmen of the State committees of each of the two political parties whose candidates
for Governor received the largest number of votes at the most recent gubernatorial election.
If the Commissioners cannot agree on a map, an 11th Commissioner is appointed by
the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
The following members have been appointed in accordance with the New Jersey Constitution
to serve as Commissioners for the 2011 redistricting round.
MEMBERS
| Apportionment Commission Members | |
| Democratic Members | Republican Members |
| John S. Wisniewski (Co-Chair) | Jay Webber (Co-Chair) |
| Nilsa Cruz-Perez (Vice Co-Chair) | Irene Kim Asbury (Vice Co-Chair) |
| Joseph Cryan | George Gilmore |
| Sheila Y. Oliver | Kevin O'Toole |
| Paul A. Sarlo | Bill Palatucci |
| 11th Member | |
| Alan Rosenthal | |
As the legislative redistricting process unfolds, the Apportionment
Commission is eager to engage the residents of the State of New
Jersey. This website is designed to provide information to the
general public about the purpose and process of legislative
redistricting in New Jersey, and to facilitate the public’s input in
this very important process.
