Oregon Public Broadcasting

Two separate reports are suggesting refinements to Oregon's redistricting process. Last year, legislative committees redrew the boundaries of state and federal districts.

A report from the Portland City Club finds the 2011 redistricting process went pretty well. It also finds some systemic flaws, the authors say, that leave redistricting open to potential conflicts of interest.

Chris Lehman / Northwest News Network

State Senator Chris Telfer looks over proposed redistricting maps.

Committee chair Scott Warnick says Oregon would be well-served by an independent, non-partisan commission.

As things stand, the people drawing the lines are state legislators, who may have a direct stake in the outcome.

A separate report from Common Cause Oregon agrees last year's process ran smoothly. But executive director Janice Thompson says voter registration information that guides the process isn't expensive. But analyzing the data can cost a lot of money.

"Right now, political players have resources to collect the political data, and that that info is being shared with legislators. This practice needs to come out into the open," says Thompson.

Both groups hope the legislature will make some changes in its 2013 session that would govern the next redistricting, in 2021.