LWV-VA Action Alert: Virginia Needs an Independent Citizen Commission for Redistricting
Actions Requested:
Please contact Chairperson Vogel, or a Senate Privileges & Elections Committee member of whom you are a constituent, to support SJ274.
| Vogel (Chairperson) (540) 662-4551 district27@senate.virginia.gov |
DeSteph (757) 321-8180 district08@senate.virginia.gov |
| Howell (703) 709-8283 district32@senate.virginia.gov |
Chase (804) 698-7511 district11@senate.virginia.gov |
| Deeds (434) 296-5491 district25@senate.virginia.gov |
Ruff (434) 374-5129 district15@senate.virginia.gov |
| Edwards (540) 985-8690 district21@senate.virginia.gov |
Cosgrove (757) 547-3422 district14@senate.virginia.gov |
| Reeves (540) 645-8440 district17@senate.virginia.gov |
Dance (804) 862-2922 district16@senate.virginia.gov |
| Ebbin (571) 384-8957 district30@senate.virginia.gov |
Spruill (757) 424-2178 district05@senate.virginia.gov |
| Chafin (276) 889-1044 district38@senate.virginia.gov |
Peake (434) 455-3382 district22@senate.virginia.gov |
Sample Email:
Dear Senator Vogel,
Please support SJ274 which provides for an independent citizen commission to establish district boundaries following the decennial census. The process gives legislators control over who serves on the commission but not control over drawing the lines. This will increase voter confidence, representation and participation.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
your constituent
Participate in person with 1VA2021 Lobby Days; more info here.
After contacting your legislator, report your advocacy here.
SJ 274 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; criteria.
Status: The amendment has been sent to the Senate P&E Committee and will be considered on Tuesday, January 22. The committee meets 15 minutes after adjournment of Senate floor session.
Justification: Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. The drawing of district lines following a decennial (every ten years) census should be done by an independent, citizen commission rather than by politicians who have a vested interest in the outcome.
Talking Points:
- We need a constitutional amendment that cannot be easily changed by the next legislature.
- An Independent Citizen Commission should be established that is: politically balanced and independent, not composed of elected officials, representative of the geographical distribution of the state, representative of the demographic diversity of the state, and have an uneven number of members.
- Districts should be: of equal population, contiguous and compact, protect the voting strength of minority groups, consider natural geographic boundaries, consider jurisdictional boundaries, consider communities of interest, and be competitive.
Find your Senator or Delegate Here:
http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/
Find more information on Redistricting: from LWV and OneVirginia2021. A hand-out is available here.
Advocacy Manua
Always keep our League policy in mind:
“Only the President or her designee is authorized to speak for the League.
However, we encourage all members to contact their public officials as individuals, whether or not they agree with a League position.”