Originally published to the Free Lance Star December 15 2021

Redistricting special masters need your input

One of the biggest changes coming to Fredericksburg with redistricting is that the city will no longer be divided between two Virginia House and two Senate districts. In general, redistricting maps for our surrounding counties are also much more compact. It will make it much easier for us to know who represents us and for our representatives to know us.

These maps were not “gerrymandered.” For the first time in hundreds of years, they were not drawn to benefit a particular politician or party. In fact, the special masters (one Republican and one Democrat) deliberately chose not to pay attention to incumbent addresses. They concentrated instead on drawing districts that met constitutional and statutory population requirements. They paid attention to compactness and minimizing county and city splits while respecting communities of interest and natural boundaries.

Please, take a look at the maps. The maps and the Special Masters’ report are available at vacourts.gov/courts/scv/districting/maps_special_masters.pdf.

Fredericksburg can be found in House District 65, Senate District 27 and Congressional District 7. (The Special Masters left open the possibility of later renumbering the districts even further in a more logical manner.)

Do you have a concern about how your congressional, and Virginia State Senate and House maps are drawn? Are you separated from your neighbors in a way that doesn’t make sense? Don’t assume your comment won’t make a difference. The special masters are asking for your input.

You can place your comments directly on the maps, email the court, or sign-up to speak from 1–4 p.m. Friday at the second of two virtual hearings scheduled for this week. The court’s Redistricting Information page has all the details you should need to participate, vacourts.gov/courts/scv/districting/redistricting_information.pdf.

Fran Larkins