Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's recommendations and pass a bill that establishes a constitutional amendment creating an independent redistricting commission for Congressional and state legislative districts.

Highlights:

• Requires districts to be constituted in a way that is as practicable to representation as it is to the percentage of the population (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any district from being drawn in a way that results in the denial or abridgement of the right to vote by any citizen on account of race, minority group, or language barrier (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that districts will be drawn in a way that preserves communities of interest, defining “communities of interest” as neighborhoods or any geographically defined group of people living in an area who share similar social, cultural, and economic interests (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a community of interest does not include a community based upon a political affiliation or relationship with a political party, elected official, or candidate for office (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an individual incarcerated in a federal correctional facility in the state will be counted and reallocated for redistributing and reapportionment purposes (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Signed by Governor Ralph Northam

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes a constitutional amendment creating an independent redistricting commission for Congressional and state legislative districts.

Highlights:

• Requires districts to be constituted in a way that is as practicable to representation as it is to the percentage of the population (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any district from being drawn in a way that results in the denial or abridgement of the right to vote by any citizen on account of race, minority group, or language barrier (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that districts will be drawn in a way that preserves communities of interest, defining “communities of interest” as neighborhoods or any geographically defined group of people living in an area who share similar social, cultural, and economic interests (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a community of interest does not include a community based upon a political affiliation or relationship with a political party, elected official, or candidate for office (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an individual incarcerated in a federal correctional facility in the state will be counted and reallocated for redistributing and reapportionment purposes (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text