Recent years have seen a number of lawsuits challenging how legislative districts are drawn, and many advocates and voters are hoping the system of partisan redistricting is about to change.
This week, the state Senate will be debating a plan that will take the power of drawing new House and Senate districts out of the hands of the same lawmakers who have to live with them — for the most part, anyway. It would have eight sitting legislators, four Republicans and four Democrats, plus eight citizens — two Democrats, two Republicans and four independents.
“It would be the most comprehensive redistricting reform legislation ever passed through a state legislature in this country.”
That’s Brian Cannon with Virginia 2021, a group advocating against gerrymandered districts.
“Citizens initiatives have kind of gone around their legislature, whether it's in Utah or Missouri or Colorado or Arizona or others. But this would be the most comprehensive reform ever passed through a state legislature.”
If that plan gets through the Senate this week, it’ll head over to the House. That’s where Republican Privileges and Elections Chairman Mark Cole has his own plan for a bipartisan redistricting commission.
“The critics are right. If one party has total control they can draw the lines to favor their candidates, and this would I think do away with that advantage.”
For advocates on all sides of this issue, the stakes couldn’t be higher. This session is the last opportunity to start the process of sending an amendment to voters before the next time House and Senate districts are drawn.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
