Connecticut Overview

Redistricting Process: For congressional redistricting, the Connecticut General Assembly, composed of both houses of the State Legislature, names a committee to reapportion the state. The president pro-tempore and minority leader in the state Senate, as well as the speaker and minority leader of the House, each name two legislators to a Redistricting Committee. If there exists a third party in the General Assembly, two members of that party will also be named to the committee. The 8 (10 if there exists a third party in the state legislature) members of the committee will make a report of reapportionment recommendations which will be submitted to the General Assembly. The Assembly then can pass the plan by a two-thirds vote. Should the General Assembly not adopt the plan by September 15th of the year following the decennial census, the Governor appoints a back-up commission again designated by those who selected the Redistricting Committee. The commission then chooses a state elector to become part of the commission, bringing the number of commissioners to 9. The Commission has until November 30th to publish and submit a plan to the secretary of state, at which point it gains the force of law. If a plan is not submitted by that date, the secretary of state can request that the chief justice of Connecticut Supreme Court either compel the commission to come up with a plan or establish its own redistricting plan.

Governor: Democrat Dan Malloy

Legislature: Democrats control both chambers.

Number of Congressional Seats in 2011: 5 (no change from 2010)

2011 Ideal District Population: 714,819

Link to Connecticut General Assembly Reapportionment Information