Sec. of State urges redistricting to Valley

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - With the census questionnaires hitting Wabash valley mailboxes, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita spoke to area citizens about one way the data should be used.

Rokita pushed his redistricting initiative to about 100 people at Indiana State's Cunningham Library. He said it's time the state created more compact districts to make it easier for voters. He said too many district lines are drawn on arbitrary boundaries without regard to townships, counties or cities.

"We have got to be able to pick our legislators, legislators should not be able to pick us," said Rokita. "But unfortunately in Indiana, for several decades now, that's exactly what they've been doing. So we aim to turn that around."

Indiana lawmakers will draw new district lines next year based on the 2010 census.

The event was hosted by the ISU College Republican and Democrat groups, along with other political groups on campus.