Don’t squander our shot at redistricting reform
An amendment establishes an independent, bipartisan redistricting commission, with balanced representation from citizenry
Republicans and Democrats alike have been perfecting the invidious practice of partisan gerrymandering for many years, effectively rigging elections and thereby disenfranchising voters who deserve districts in which the two parties actually compete for their vote.
In the 2019 General Assembly (controlled by Republicans) and the 2020 General Assembly (controlled by Democrats), a constitutional amendment to abolish partisan redistricting was finally approved in the manner required to submit this issue to a statewide referendum on Nov. 3. Polls show that the amendment is supported by more than 65% of Virginians.
The amendment establishes an independent, bipartisan redistricting commission of the type advocated by President Obama, with balanced representation from the legislature and the general citizenry. As further protection against partisan mischief, supermajorities of the commission will be required to approve the redistricting map that is presented for an up-or-down vote by the legislature (i.e., no partisan amendments to protect incumbents will be permitted).
However, the amendment expressly states that details crucial for its implementation — such as the application process, qualifications and selection of citizen members — must be established “in the manner determined by the General Assembly by general law.”
On the likelihood that this popular constitutional amendment will be approved by the voters on Nov. 3, the General Assembly must do its job now, in the upcoming special session set for Aug. 18.
Under the amendment, legislative commission members must be appointed by Dec. 1. Citizen commission members must be selected by Jan. 1, and the first meeting of the independent commission must be held by Feb. 1. No opportunity to enact implementing legislation in a timely manner will be available once the special session is over, much less after the
November referendum.
A comprehensive enabling act passed the House and Senate after being thoroughly vetted and amended to achieve bipartisan consensus on the most crucial elements. These include proper disclosure of partisan affiliations by commission applicants and guarantees of racial, ethnic, gender and geographical diversity in commission appointments. The bill would have been enacted into law but for political bickering in the conference committee at the end of the session, when the enabling act was “left on the table” (to use the parliamentary euphemism for inaction).
Now members of the House of Delegates are debating whether to complete their unfinished business during the special session. Regrettably, resistance to the people’s demand for fairly drawn districts is unsurprising. In this year’s General Assembly, 20 House Democrats who voted for the constitutional amendment in 2019 when they were in the minority flipped their position to vote against the very same constitutional amendment in 2020 once they were in the majority.
Lest you think this is a one-party syndrome, please remember that a majority of Republican incumbents in the House blocked redistricting reform when they thought they were firmly in control.
The necessary implementing legislation is ready for an up-or-down vote in the upcoming special session. Substantively identical language has already been debated and passed in both chambers. It will not require much floor time for the General Assembly to fulfill its solemn responsibility in August.
Failure to act would be an inexcusable dereliction of the people’s business. Virginians of all political persuasions must insist that the General Assembly vote on this legislation during the special session.
Charles V. McPhillips is chairman of the advocacy board for OneVirginia2021, a statewide nonpartisan organization dedicated to redistricting reform