REDISTRICTING: Reminder, Updates, and Ongoing Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting public engagement process
Comments encouraged on draft Redistricting Demonstration Map 2C
Link: https://richmondvacitycouncil.blogspot.com/2022/03/redistricting-reminder-updates-and.html
Richmond, Virginia – In Richmond City Council’s continued efforts to provide public awareness, engagement, and transparency for the Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting process over the last number of months, Council added additional meetings and has provided even more time for public input and participation.
The schedule includes public transparency links to all past meetings, (which include details, videos, attachments, minutes, etc for those who may have missed a meeting, are keen for additional information, or would like to review a meeting again) and upcoming meetings for public involvement, engagement, awareness, and input.
As part of the process, Richmond City Council presented and adopted Draft Demonstration Map 2C (https://richmond-redistricting-cor.hub.arcgis.com/) for public review, comments, and engagement.
Richmond residents are invited and encouraged to provide comments and input regarding draft Redistricting Demonstration Map 2C, per below. (Note: This is not a final map/plan and is for continued public comments and engagement.)
Comments and Contact
Richmonders interested in the process are encouraged, invited, and requested to please take the opportunity to contact the Richmond City Council member that represents them (https://www.rva.gov/richmond-city-council/council-contacts) for more information and/or to share their thoughts and ideas regarding redistricting.
Find Your Richmond Voter District
Richmond residents not sure who their individual Councilmember is, can use the following helpful portal, if needed, to assist in identifying their individual Richmond Voter District:
- Richmond Real Estate Property Search Database https://apps.richmondgov.com/applications/propertysearch/Search.aspx (note: Once you’ve entered your address, use the Govt. tab to identify your Voter Districts.)
Visit the Redistricting webpage portal
Want learn more about redistricting, see and engage with demonstration maps, or missed a Council Redistricting Information and Engagement Meeting or Map Drawing Demonstration session and/or just want to see again, please visit the Richmond City Council Redistricting information webpage portal (https://www.rva.gov/richmond-city-council/redistricting).
Public input is actively solicited, requested, encouraged, and invited
Richmond City Council also solicits, encourages, invites, and requests interested Richmond residents, in accordance with Virginia law, to offer, submit, suggest, and share public comments, including (but not limited to) data, questions, alternate plans, suggestions, etc., via the following helpful ways:
- Mail: Richmond City Council/Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting
Richmond City Hall; 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305; Richmond, Virginia 23219
- Fax: 804.646.5468
- Email at: Contact Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting information portal via email, at redistricting@rva.gov.
Redistricting Schedule
The schedule includes public transparency links to all past meetings, (which include details, videos, attachments, minutes, etc for those who may have missed a meeting, are keen for additional information, or would like to review a meeting again) and upcoming meetings for public involvement, engagement, awareness, and input.
- Wednesday, February 9, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Public drawing of Richmond Voter District Map Options
- Thursday, February 10, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Public drawing of Richmond Voter District Map Options
- Friday, February 11, 2022; Noon-2:00 p.m.
Public drawing of Richmond Voter District Map Options
- Monday, February 14, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
- Wednesday, February 23, 2022; 3:30-5:00 p.m. (additional meeting added 2.17.2022)
Richmond City Council Special Meeting - Redistricting
At the conclusion of the Redistricting Special meeting held on 2.23.2022, a map referred to as 2A was discussed and requested by Councilmembers. After the meeting, it was determined the proposed map did not meet the deviance percentage to balance the voter district. As a result adjustments were made to the proposed map to balance it, however it was slightly different than that discussed at the public meeting. President Newbille requested that Map 2A be placed on the agenda for discussion and decision in a public meeting by all members of Council.
- Monday, February 28, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Council redistricting information and engagement
- Tuesday, March 1, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m. (not a meeting/moved to 3.8.2022 on 3.7.2022)
30 Day Public Comment Period on draft Redistricting plan/plans begins
- Monday, March 7, 2022; 5:00-6:30 p.m. (additional meeting added 3.2.2022/Updated 3.4.2022)
Richmond City Council Special Meeting
Introduction of a draft redistricting plan/s for public comment/Update
redistricting schedule. The meeting was held to introduce two resolutions related to redistricting under expedited consideration. The meeting also included a review of proposed Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting Demonstration Map 2C (https://richmond-redistricting-cor.hub.arcgis.com/).
Draft Demonstration Map 2C was presented and selected for public comment. (Note: This is not a final map/plan and is for continued public comments and engagement - Council Introduction of final redistricting plan is anticipated to occur on Monday, April 25, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m.)
- Tuesday, March 8, 2022 (not a meeting)
30 Day (actually 49 day) Public Comment Period on draft Redistricting Plan begins (Note: This is not a final map/plan and is for continued public comments and engagement.)
- Monday, April 11, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Council Redistricting information and engagement (public comment/engagement continues).
- Monday, April 25, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Final day for public comment on draft plan
(49 days of public comment [Note: 19 additional days/more than 30]).
Introduction of final redistricting plan.
- Monday, May 23, 2022; 6:00-8:00 p.m. (updated 3.7.2022)
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting
Final public hearing and adoption of final redistricting plan. Council (City) Clerk publishes notice of final redistricting plan.
- Wednesday, June 22, 2022 (not a meeting)
Redistricting plan/New Voter District map takes effect
(NOTE: Prior date for plan taking effect was 5.26.2022 and was extended further on 3.7.2022 to provide even more public input.)
Working schedule subject to additions and updates.
Public Engagement, Information, and Participation
Richmond residents are invited and encouraged to participate and be involved in the 2021/2022 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting process and to share their comments, thoughts, and/or ideas regarding proposed plan or plans to be considered. The Richmond Voter Districts are to be redistricted in 2022.
About Redistricting
Every 10 years (Decennially), following the release of the decennial census by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, voter districts across the nation are updated (reapportioned and redistricted) to reflect population shifts and changes during that time in order to provide equality of representation on behalf of voting residents when participating in general, primary, and/or special governmental elections.
How Richmond Voter Districts are used
To operate our local government services, our city is divided into nine geographic/demographic Richmond Voter Districts. We, as Richmond residents, use these to elect individual local members of Richmond City Council, Richmond Public Schools Board of Trustees, and a Mayor (who must earn the most votes in five of the nine Richmond Voter Districts).
Richmond Redistricting
State law requires Richmond City Council to reapportion/redistrict the local Richmond Voter Districts boundaries every 10 years based on U.S. Census data. This is known as the Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting process. The updated Richmond Voter Districts are to be established in 2022.
Richmond City Council continues to be committed to ensuring the 2021/2022 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting process and plan are clearly defined, transparent, inclusive, and are driven by and responsive to providing opportunity for public engagement, involvement, inclusion, discussion, awareness, feedback, deliberation, comment, and input on behalf of Richmond residents.
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