WINFIELD, W.Va. â The first of 12 statewide public hearings on redrawing West Virginiaâs legislative and congressional boundaries for the coming decade took place Tuesday in Putnam County.
Residents were united in their comments made to the redistricting committee, asking members to shrink the number of House of Delegates districts in Putnam County that enter into neighboring counties. Ten people addressed the committee, but members of the public were outnumbered by the senators, delegates, political candidates and legislative staff that filled the Old Putnam County Courthouse courtroom.
Since the U.S. Census Bureau has not released results of the 2020 census, redistricting efforts will be complicated by the lack of specific population information. Those results are expected to come this fall, but committee members said they wanted to be out in front of the results with a general plan already in place. The West Virginia Constitution requires boundary lines be redrawn ever
First hearing on redistricting held in Putnam County By
July 28, 2021 - 12:44 am
Delegate Gary Howell, R-Mineral. and Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, presiding over Tuesday s hearing. (Photo courtesy of Joe Stevens)
WINFIELD, W.Va. West Virginia legislators on Tuesday held the first public hearing about redistricting, in which lawmakers heard from residents about their concerns regarding the current districts.
The hearing at the Putnam County Judicial Building marked the start of a series of in-person hearings scheduled to take place across the state. The Joint Committee on Redistricting is responsible for using U.S. Census data for establishing new districts for state and federal offices.
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HUNTINGTON â The West Virginia Legislatureâs Joint Committee on Redistricting has announced the format for public hearings on redistricting, which are set to begin this week.
These are listening events for the public to share their thoughts about congressional and legislative boundary lines. The West Virginia Constitution requires the Legislature to redraw these lines every 10 years utilizing U.S. Census data to reflect any population changes. Due to the delay in the federal government releasing census data, specific population numbers will not be available at these events and the committee will not present any proposed maps. Legislators will not respond to questions during the public hearing, following House Rule 84, which governs public hearings.