Apply to serve on commission
Virginia needs people willing to serve to make sure redistricting runs smoothly
Redistricting stands as one of the most important — and arguably least publicly known and appreciated — aspects of ensuring fair and accurate representation in state and federal government.
Now, following an election in which Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment creating a redistricting commission, the commonwealth needs people willing to serve and ensure the process runs smoothly.
The Virginia Division of Legislative Services is now accepting applications and those with the motivation, determination and civic devotion to participate should submit their paperwork soon.
November’s vote to amend the state Constitution was historic. Though there were plenty of reservations about the specifics of the commission itself and some of the protocols it must follow, vesting authority for that process in a commission, rather than the General Assembly, is a stark change from the way things were.
For decades, the process of drawing district lines for seats in the House of Delegates, state Senate and U.S. House of Representatives was conducted largely out of view. Democrats and Republicans, who these days find few areas of common ground, routinely managed to reach agreement on maps that protected incumbents — often at the expense of all else.
The process enabled lawmakers to choose their voters, moving lines to increase their likelihood of reelection. Whichever party had a legislative majority used that power to draw lines more favorable to retaining control — and to be quite clear, both parties were guilty of it.
Ignored, in large measure, were the voters, who had little input in the process. As mapping software and data analysis became more refined and detailed, it enabled lawmakers to divide regions, carve up cities and counties, even split neighborhoods, with little regard for how it affected residents.
Worse, the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder effectively gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which some nefarious-minded lawmakers saw as a green light to resume racial gerrymandering.
While Virginia’s most recent legislative maps were approved before that ruling, federal courts subsequently ruled, in separate cases, the 3rd Congressional District and several state House districts, including six in Hampton Roads, constituted illegal racial gerrymandering and ordered them redrawn.
The constitutional amendment — indeed, the entire effort to reform the redistricting process in Virginia — was an attempt to eliminate this sort of manipulation and malfeasance. It aspires to bring neutral participants into the fold while removing political gamesmanship and bolstering transparency.
The new commission, expected to begin work in February, consists of 16 members, eight lawmakers and eight citizens. It will draw maps once it receives data from the recent U.S. census, though the Census Bureau has warned the delivery of that information will be delayed due to the pandemic.
The eight lawmakers have already been selected, and include Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, whose academic and legislative experience is likely to serve the commission well. That group will review applications by citizens interested to serve and recommend nominees for a panel of former judges to approve.
The portal for submitting an online application is available at redistricting.dls. virginia.gov, and qualified residents should review the specifications and, if interested, submit the required forms before the Dec. 28 deadline.
Not everyone is eligible to serve. The rules, available at that the DLS site, intend to weed out those who may be political operatives or who might taint the process, though it may have the unwanted effect of eliminating some knowledgeable, experienced and civic-minded folks from consideration.
Still, there more than enough talented Virginia residents to fill eight seats, with the expectation they will be the vanguard of a new and exciting journey for the commonwealth. Chances are, this won’t go smoothly as everyone wants, but if Virginia proceeds intending to do good, honest work in the public’s best interest, we can hope for results that deserve public support.
Interested citizens shouldn’t delay. File that paperwork and help Virginia draw maps that honor democracy and deliver trustworthy representation for the people of the commonwealth.