House committee to initiate redistricting review

Del. Mark L. Cole of Fredericksburg today announced that the redistricting subcommittee of the House of Delegates Committee on Privileges and Elections has scheduled a series of six public hearings throughout the Commonwealth to encourage broad public input into the redistricting process.

The public hearings will take place in September, October and December in preparation for the redistricting process that will occur in 2011.

The House Committee on Privileges and Elections has jurisdiction over measures relating to redistricting. Del. Cole, chairman of the committee and the redistricting subcommittee, stressed that the committee wants the public from the outset to have input into the redistricting process. The subcommittee seeks public comment on the redistricting process, criteria to be considered in preparing redistricting plans, and potential district changes to legislative and congressional districts.

Estimates of the current populations of the present House, Senate, and congressional districts are now available through the Division of Legislative Services on the Internet in the August 2010 issue of Drawing the Line 2011, its redistricting news letter. The site for Drawing the Line 2011 is http://dlsgis.state.va.us/.

Questions may be directed to Jack Austin at the Division of Legislative Services at [email protected] and at 804.786.3591.

Schedule of Redistricting Public Hearings

Wednesday, Sept. 8 , 7 p.m., Natural Science Center, Virginia Western Community College (Roanoke)

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m., Roper Performing Arts Center, Tidewater Community College (Norfolk)

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m., Mason Hall, George Mason University

Monday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m., Regional Center for Advanced Technology and Training, Danville Community College

Monday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., University Hall, University of Mary Washington (Stafford Campus)

Friday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m., 9th Floor Appropriations Room, General Assembly Building (time approximate, after governor’s remarks to the money committees)
 
 

Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at [email protected].