After 18 public hearings, hours of testimony, and painstaking work on possible new legislative and congressional district lines, Idaho’s citizen redistricting commission now plans to return in two weeks to continue its task.

The six-member bipartisan panel had hoped to agree on new draft legislative and congressional districts for Idaho on Wednesday, but members said they were
not there yet.

The Idaho Press reports district lines must change each decade to match population changes reflected in the new U.S. Census, in order to preserve the one-person, one-vote principle.

Redistricting commissioners are forbidden by law from taking into account any partisan political considerations – including the fate of incumbent legislators or congressmen – when they draw new legislative and congressional district maps.

The commission is set to reconvene at the state Capitol on Oct. 27 at 10 a.m.

There’s more information online at redistricting.idaho.gov.