Redistricting maps roll out

The Joint Redistricting Committee has started releasing proposed maps in advance of the July 13th special session.

The maps released this afternoon show “VRA” or “Voting Rights Act” districts – state House and Senate districts designed to have at least “50% plus one” minority population. VRAs are required by a 1965 federal statute aimed at guaranteeing legislative representation for minorities.

The VRA districts are required to be drawn first under state law. They’ll also need the approval of either the U.S. Dept. of Justice or the DC Circuit Court.

Without seeing the complete map, it’s difficult to tell exactly what the effect of the change will be. But the proposal puts at least one incumbent – Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford – into the same district with another incumbent, Rep. Maggie Jeffus, D-Guilford. And one Senator, Linda Garrou, D-Forsyth, would be drawn out of her district entirely.

The maps for the rest of the House and Senate districts and the Congressional plans are scheduled to be released by July 1st.