Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission, established, apportionment. (HJ117)

Introduced By

Sen. John Bell (D-Chantilly) with support from 6 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church), Del. Joe Lindsey (D-Norfolk), Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston), Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church), Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Arlington)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate

Description

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission. Establishes the seven-member Virginia Redistricting Commission to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census of the United States. The Commission is directed to certify district plans for the General Assembly within 30 days of receipt of the new census data or by June 1 of the year following the census, whichever is earlier, and for the House of Representatives within 60 days of receipt of the census data or by July 1 of the year following the census, whichever is earlier. The amendment requires districts be drawn using the shortest split methodology, which divides the geographic area of the Commonwealth into two halves of approximately equal population based on the official decennial census redistricting numbers, choosing the shortest possible dividing line to split the state. The division of halves shall continue until the required number of districts is achieved. The Commission is required to make adjustments to the resulting maps as may be necessary to achieve compliance with the requirements of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, and is authorized to make adjustments to the resulting maps so that district boundaries coincide with existing political boundaries and take into account geographic features. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/12/2016Committee
01/12/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16102538D
01/12/2016Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/16/2016Left in Privileges and Elections

Comments

ACLU-VA Redistricting, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia is monitoring this bill.