Redrawing the Lines: Fort Wayne Town Hall to Address Unusual Redistricting Plans

Today, Indiana lawmakers want to redraw congressional district lines before the usual 10-year schedule. That’s rare. Indiana last redrew lines after the 2020 Census, in 2021, and those maps took effect for the 2022 elections. Other states have done mid-decade redistricting before, like Texas in 2003 and Georgia in 2005. But experts say that most mid-cycle redistricting happens because of court orders, not as a political strategy. This makes what’s happening here unusual. It’s not the norm in modern U.S. politics.

 

A town hall meeting is happening on Tuesday, September 9 at 6:00 PM in Meeting Room A at the Allen County Public Library’s main branch in downtown Fort Wayne. This event is hosted by State Representatives Phil GiaQuinta and Kyle Miller. No registration is required. Residents can show up, listen, and share their opinions directly.

 

At this meeting, lawmakers will explain why they support or oppose the new proposal. You can ask questions, speak up, or simply listen and learn. After the meeting, a decision may come in the form of a special legislative session. Lawmakers could vote on a new map before the next election, or they might wait until the usual post-census process.

What can you do? First, attend the meeting and share what you think. Second, reach out to your state representatives. Call or email them to tell your views. Local civic groups and advocacy organizations are also gathering petitions and encouraging public comments. Speaking up now matters.

 

Here’s how the process usually works: Indiana redraws district lines every 10 years after the census. In 2021, the legislature passed the new maps and the governor signed them into law. That’s how we got the current districts. Redistricting outside that cycle is highly unusual. Only a few states have done so voluntarily, and most mid-cycle changes happen when a court rules the existing maps unfair or illegal.

Below is a list of Fort Wayne’s state representatives in the Indiana House. If you want to voice your opinion, here’s how to reach them:

 

Phil GiaQuinta (District 80)
Phone: (317) 232-9600

Kyle Miller (District 5)
Phone: (317) 232-9600

 

Dan Leonard (District 50)
Phone: (317) 232-9600

Ben Smaltz (District 52)
Phone: (317) 232-9600

Martin Carbaugh (District 81)
Phone: (317) 232-9600

Christopher Judy (District 83)
Phone: (317) 232-9600

Bob Morris (District 84)
Phone: (317) 232-9600

Dave Heine (District 85)
Phone: (317) 232-9600

Let your voice be heard. This is your chance to help shape how your community is represented.