IN SB0080

Establishes standards requiring legislative districts to preserve traditional neighborhoods and local communities of interest based on cultural, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic similarities

Requires districts to protect minority voting rights consistent with the U.S. Constitution and Indiana Constitution as interpreted by courts

Mandates that districts be compact with simple shapes, particularly in areas of high population density, though boundaries may deviate to follow political subdivision or natural geographic boundaries

Requires districts to respect county boundary lines while minimizing the number of counties comprising a district, with counties within a district to be as contiguous as possible

Prohibits dividing precincts when practicable to prevent voter confusion and minimize election administrative costs, with an effective date of July 1, 2010