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Redistricting challenges and controversies in the state

This segment is from SDPB's monthly news program, South Dakota Focus, hosted by Jackie Hendry.

Each year, voters send lawmakers to Pierre for the state legislative session. Those lawmakers represent 35 districts. And after the census every ten years, lawmakers redraw those districts themselves. The barriers of a district determine exactly which voters a given lawmaker represents.

The redistricting process is underway now. But as legislators draw the new maps, there's a push to change the process and make it less political.

Redistricting follow-up:

State lawmakers have until November 8th to finalize the new district boundaries, and there's plenty of work ahead. SDPB's Lee Strubinger joins us from the SDPB Black Hills Studio in Rapid City.

Lee Strubinger is SDPB’s Rapid City-based news and political reporter. A former reporter for Fort Lupton Press (CO) and Colorado Public Radio, Lee holds a master’s in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield.