The panel of Coloradans that is redrawing the state's congressional districts has given itself an extra month to do so.

The Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission voted unanimously Monday to wait until Oct. 1 to submit a final map to the Colorado Supreme Court. The original deadline was Sept. 1.

The redistricting process occurs once every 10 years. In Colorado, two 12-person commissions use U.S. Census data to redraw congressional and legislative districts in accordance with population trends.

This year's redistricting process was slowed by the delayed release of that census data. The final figures are scheduled to be released by the U.S. Census Bureau in mid-August, five months later than usual.

The Colorado Supreme Court must approve a final map by Dec. 15.