Political Stakes Are High in Virginia's Redistricting Process

Virginia's redistricting process will kick off soon, and once it does, things will go at "lightning speed," state Sen. Janet Howell (D-32) said at a redistricting forum in Fairfax County on Friday. 

About 35 people showed up to the forum at the Government Center in Fairfax County, hosted by several nonprofit groups. The purpose of the forum was to inform the public about the redistricting process that will affect people throughout the state this year. 

Districts will change at the county level, in the state senate and house, as well as Congressional districts. All districts must have the same amount of people, but that makes the process a bit complicated. 

The government has to take into account that "it's about community symetrics, not just geography," Michael Long, a deputy Fairfax County attorney said.  

That makes it unlikely that the process will be nonpartisan, as many Northern Virginia residents have . 

Many people have said, "'please, please, take politics out of the redistricting process,'" said David Poole of the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonprofit that promotes transparency in government. "That sounds like a great idea but it's harder to do then it sounds." 

He said that even if politics are taken out of the process, actions may have political consequences. "You can certainly ask people in southwest Virginia. It’s going to be very painful [for them] to lose representation."

A plan for redistricting also has to be agreeed upon and approved by the Republican-controlled House of Delegates and Governor's office, then by the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats. 

The timeline will be crucial to the process. Near the end of February, the state will receive Census data, and the General Assembly will reconvene in March. 

The process for redistricting takes longer in Virginia than in many other areas because federal law requires that the state first submit its plan to the Department of Justice's civil rights division for approval. While some, such as state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, have taken issue with this requirement, saying that in today's day and age racism is not as much of a problem, Howell said that she supported the mandatory oversight. 

"Virginia has a history that is in many ways shameful, and I am relieved that there will be a review," Howell said. As head of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, she will play a key role in formulating the state's plan. 

However, the DOJ's review may take up to 61 days, which means that everyone involved in the redistricting process will have to hustle. Politicians, for example, will not know exactly where to run for office until the DOJ approves the state's plan. That isn't the most convenient timeline, with primary elections taking place near the beginning of September. The DOJ is also free to reject the state's plan. 

"Every step of the way there are pitfalls and we don't know what they will be," Howell said.