Redistricting hearings seek public input

Paul B. Johnson, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
·2 min read

Sep. 6—HIGH POINT — Area voters will have two opportunities at hearings in the Piedmont to make their views known about redistricting as state legislators hold a series of input sessions across the state this month.

The North Carolina Senate and House Redistricting Committees will hold 13 public hearings during September. One hearing in the Piedmont will take place at 4 p.m. Sept. 14 at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, while the other will occur at 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at Alamance Community College in Graham.

Redistricting hearings will take place at sites in each of the state's current 13 congressional districts. North Carolina will gain a 14th congressional district for the 2022 election based on population growth during the last decade as tallied by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Speakers may sign up on-site at each hearing beginning one hour prior to the start time.

Speakers may also sign up online. The online sign-up portal will close four hours prior to the start time. The online speakers portal will be available through the General Assembly's page at www.ncleg.gov.

In addition to crafting 14 congressional districts for next year's elections, the General Assembly will redraw 50 state Senate and 120 state House districts. The General Assembly is controlled by Republicans, and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper doesn't have veto authority over redistricting legislation.

The General Assembly needs to have congressional and legislative districts in place later this year. Candidates can file to run in the 2022 elections Dec. 6-17 leading into the March 8 primary. The general election will take place Nov. 8, 2022.

A wild card with the redistricting schedule centers on potential legal challenges to the congressional and legislative maps. Last decade, activists arguing that previous redistricting plans constituted improper gerrymandering won legal challenges that compelled new plans to be put in place.

If the courts intervene this time, it could delay candidate filing and the primary later into 2022. The courts could also assign their own congressional and legislative maps for the 2022 election cycle to meet the current schedule or a delayed schedule determined by judges.

Redistricting carries enormous political implications for North Carolina politics through the decade, as whichever congressional and legislative maps are approved will serve through the 2030 election cycle.

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul