From the State Capitol in Richmond, I’m Craig Carper.
This year the General Assembly will consider a constitutional amendment that would empower a bipartisan commission of lawmakers and citizens to draw congressional and state legislative district lines in 2021 and every 10 years after. If it passes, it will go to the voters this November.
Advocates say this will limit partisan influence on the redistricting process.
Now Democratic Delegate Marcia Price has introduced her own bill. It would establish a separate citizen commission that would recommend maps that proportionally represent Virginia’s gender, racial and geographic diversity.
“Simply put there is no reform without the full and equal inclusion of communities of color.”
Other redistricting advocates say Price’s legislation wouldn’t be enforceable and that the constitutional amendment is the only way to realistically limit partisan gerrymandering.
It’s not clear there is still majority support for redistricting reform. It was a key priority for Democrats when they were in the minority. However, now that they are in power, Democrats have the ability to draw district lines that build their majorities in both chambers.
For Assembly 20, I’m Craig Carper.
