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1 Letter: Next Steps for Redistricting Reform in Virginia [1] (April 8, 2020)

handle is hein.brennan/bcjnxtst0001 and id is 1 raw text is: BRENNAN CENTER April 8,2020 The Honorable Ralph S. Northam Governor of Virginia Richmond, Virginia 23218 Re: Next Steps for Redistricting Reform in Virginia Dear Governor Northam, We write to urge you to take gubernatorial action before April 11 to make sure that proposed redistricting reforms on the ballot this fall operate as smoothly as possible in 2021 if approved by voters. This session, Virginia lawmakers sent a historic constitutional amendment (SJ 18) to voters that, if approved in November, would create the first redistricting commission in the South (the Commission). The General Assembly also passed important statutory legislation setting out the rules the commission must follow when drawing maps in 2021 and ending the pernicious practice of prison gerrymandering. However, several important steps remain to ensure that the Commission, if approved by voters, is in a position to function in 2021. This is because the General Assembly narrowly failed to agree on enabling legislation that would have provided for the selection of citizen commissioners, created a process for public comment, and set out the process that the Supreme Court of Virginia would use for drawing maps in the event of deadlock. We write this letter to provide a synopsis of what legislation passed last session, what failed to pass, and to offer recommendations of what can be done through executive action to make sure that the Commission is ready and well-positioned to draw maps in 2021. Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law 120 Broadway, Suite 1750 NewYork, NY 10271

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