Based on the results of the 2010 U.S. Census, the boundaries of House District 27A will need to be expanded to include an additional 4,341 people, state Rep. Rich Murray said Wednesday.

With the increase in the state’s population to 5.3 million, each of the 134 districts in the House of Representatives will need just shy of 40,000 people.

“They’re going to get as close to that as possible,” Murray said.

For District 27A, that will most likely mean picking up a few more cities to the west, such as Bricelyn, Wells and Kiester, or a few more cities to the north, possibly Ellendale and New Richland. He said he thinks it’s not as likely the district will pick up more people to the east.

Murray noted he has had preliminary talks with District 43A Rep. Sarah Anderson, chairwoman of the House Redistricting Committee. He expected there to be further information in April.

If the House and Senate come up with a redistricting plan that DFL Gov. Mark Dayton does not approve, the redistricting could end up in the courts.

Senate redistricting

District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks said his district — which currently covers all of Freeborn and Mower counties and four townships in Fillmore County — would need to pick up about 5,500 people under the new census numbers.

In the Senate, each district has as close to 79,000 people as possible.

Sparks said during the next month the Senate and House will put together district maps.

He noted redistricting needs to be completed by Feb. 2012 because of the upcoming elections in November 2012.

Because of redistricting, the entire Senate and House will be up for re-election again.