Letters to the Editor: Ongoing exclusion marks redistricting panel failure

Nov 30, 2021

By: Callie Jordan and Megan Rickman Blackwood

A year after voters approved the Virginia Redistricting Commission, citizens who robustly participated in the process are suffering a severe case of exclusion deja vu.

The new process was intended to be inclusive, but commissioners failed to reach any compromise or complete their work. As a consequence, thousands of comments, and hundreds of community members' testimonies and proposed maps may be rendered moot.

The process now is in the hands of the Virginia Supreme Court for final consideration. It should make public hearing opportunities available, and citizens who previously submitted public testimony or comment to the commission should resubmit it to the court so their voices are heard.

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