Isabella Carter
Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1, also known as the Redistricting Commission Amendment, was on the ballot in Virginia on November 3, 2020, as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The amendment proposed to establish a redistricting commission consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth to draw congressional and state legislative districts. This amendment aimed to address concerns over gerrymandering and promote fairer representation in the state's legislative and congressional districts. The measure was supported by various individuals and organizations, including the Washington Post Editorial Board and the National Black nonpartisan redistricting organization, while facing opposition from some grassroots volunteers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ballot | November 3, 2020 |
| Purpose | To address who is in charge of drawing election redistricting maps for the U.S. House of Representatives, the State Senate, and the House of Delegates |
| Supporters | The Washington Post Editorial Board, Phillip Thompson (an attorney and the Executive Director of the National Black nonpartisan redistricting organization), a bipartisan group of legal experts, former lawmakers and university professors |
| Opponents | Grassroots volunteer Chris Ambrose, Del. Cia Price D-Newport News |
| Result | Approved |
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What You'll Learn
The amendment addresses gerrymandering concerns
Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1, also known as Question 1 or Amendment #1, addresses gerrymandering concerns by proposing the creation of a redistricting commission. The amendment was on the ballot in Virginia on November 3, 2020, and was approved by voters.
Under the previous system, the Virginia General Assembly was responsible for drawing the state's congressional and legislative district boundaries. This process occurred every 10 years following the U.S. Census, and it allowed the majority party in the legislature to manipulate district lines in their favour. This practice, known as gerrymandering, has been a source of concern for many Virginians.
The amendment establishes a redistricting commission consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth. This commission would be responsible for drawing the congressional and state legislative districts. The districts drawn by the commission would then be voted on by the General Assembly without the involvement of the Governor. If the redistricting commission or the General Assembly fails to agree on or enact the district maps by certain deadlines, the responsibility would fall to the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Supporters of the amendment, including the Washington Post Editorial Board and the National Black nonpartisan redistricting organization, argue that it will bring much-needed reform to the redistricting process. They believe it will reduce political opportunism and manipulation and promote balance and fairness in the process. Additionally, it is expected to have a positive impact on the Black community, as redistricting has historically been used against African Americans.
However, some individuals, like grassroots volunteer Chris Ambrose, have criticised the amendment. They argue that it does not truly remove power from legislators, as they still have significant influence over the commission's composition and can veto its work.
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It aims to reduce political opportunism
Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1, also known as Question 1 or Amendment #1, was on the ballot in Virginia on November 3, 2020, as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The amendment was approved and aimed to address political opportunism and manipulation in the process of drawing election redistricting maps for the U.S. House of Representatives, the State Senate, and the House of Delegates.
Prior to the amendment, the Virginia General Assembly, controlled by either Republicans or Democrats depending on the year, was responsible for drawing the state's congressional and state legislative district boundaries. This process occurred every 10 years after the census and was subject to the governor's veto power. The redistricting plans were passed as legislation, allowing the majority party to manipulate district lines to their advantage and engage in blatant power politics.
Amendment #1 proposed the establishment of a redistricting commission consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth to draw the congressional and state legislative districts. This commission would introduce transparency and balance to the process, reducing the opportunity for political manipulation. The proposed amendment aimed to ensure that electoral districts were composed of contiguous and compact territory, with representation proportional to the population of the district. It also emphasised the importance of racial and ethnic fairness in the redistricting process, addressing federal and state laws, including the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Supporters of the amendment, such as the Washington Post Editorial Board and Phillip Thompson, an attorney from the National Black nonpartisan redistricting organisation, emphasised the potential to reduce political opportunism and manipulation. They argued that the amendment would bring much-needed reform to Virginia, promoting transparency and balance in the redistricting process. By involving citizens in the commission, the amendment aimed to reduce the control of legislators and mitigate the negative impact of gerrymandering on the Black community.
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The Washington Post Editorial Board supported it
The Washington Post Editorial Board supported Virginia Constitutional Amendment 1, which was on the ballot in Virginia as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2020. The amendment proposed to establish a redistricting commission that would be responsible for drawing congressional and state legislative district boundaries.
The Editorial Board argued that Virginians had a "once-in-a-lifetime chance to dampen political opportunism and manipulation" in the redistricting process by voting "yes" on Amendment 1. They highlighted that the amendment would bring much-needed transparency to a procedure that had been shielded from scrutiny and promote balance instead of power politics.
The Washington Post Editorial Board's support for Amendment 1 was in line with the broader push for redistricting reform across the United States. At the time, a dozen or so states had already adopted some form of redistricting reform, and Virginia's amendment was considered to be as good as or better than most.
The Editorial Board also emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in the redistricting process. They saw Amendment 1 as a positive step towards giving citizens a more direct say in how their state's legislative and congressional districts are drawn. This was a significant shift from the previous process, where district boundaries were drawn by legislators behind closed doors, leading to concerns about gerrymandering and a lack of representation for certain communities.
By supporting Virginia Constitutional Amendment 1, The Washington Post Editorial Board recognized the potential for a fairer and more transparent redistricting process in the state. They encouraged Virginians to seize this opportunity to bring about positive change in their state's political landscape.
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The amendment establishes a civilian commission
Virginia Constitutional Amendment #1, also known as Question 1 or Amendment #1, was a ballot measure in the state's 2020 election. It proposed to amend the state constitution to establish a redistricting commission that would be responsible for drawing congressional and state legislative districts. The amendment was approved by voters.
The establishment of a civilian commission for redistricting is intended to address concerns about gerrymandering and political manipulation in the process of drawing district lines. Under the previous system, the state legislature or the General Assembly, controlled by whichever party held a majority, was responsible for drawing the district boundaries. This allowed for the potential manipulation of district lines to favour the party in power and impact election outcomes.
Supporters of the amendment argue that it will bring transparency and balance to the redistricting process, reducing the influence of political opportunism. They believe it will help prevent gerrymandering and protect the voting rights of minorities, specifically African Americans, who have historically been disadvantaged by redistricting practices.
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It could positively impact the Black community
Virginia Constitutional Amendment No. 1, also known as the Redistricting Commission Amendment, was on the ballot in Virginia on November 3, 2020. The amendment proposed to establish a redistricting commission consisting of eight members of the General Assembly and eight citizens of the Commonwealth to be responsible for drawing congressional and state legislative districts.
This amendment could positively impact the Black community in several ways. Firstly, it addresses the historical use of redistricting as a tool to marginalize African Americans. Redistricting has often resulted in the segregation and redlining of Black communities. By establishing a civilian commission to draw district lines, the amendment aims to reduce political opportunism and manipulation in the process. This could lead to more proportional representation for Black communities and ensure their voices are heard.
Secondly, the amendment includes criteria to promote racial and ethnic fairness in the redistricting process. It adheres to federal and state laws, including the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protect against racial discrimination in voting. The amendment also ensures that districts provide, where practicable, opportunities for racial and ethnic minorities to elect candidates of their choice, promoting equal participation in the political process.
Additionally, the amendment could help to avoid gerrymandering, which has historically been used to dilute the voting power of minority communities. By enshrining protections against partisan gerrymandering, the amendment strengthens the voting rights of racial and ethnic minorities. Furthermore, the amendment promotes transparency and balance in the redistricting process, replacing the previous system where districts were drawn by legislators behind closed doors.
While there is some opposition to the amendment, with concerns about the potential for legislators to still exert control, the measure was approved by voters in 2020. The positive impact of the amendment on the Black community lies in its potential to reduce the manipulation of district lines, increase fair representation, and protect the voting rights of racial and ethnic minorities.
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Frequently asked questions
Virginia Constitutional Amendment 1, also known as Virginia Question 1, addresses who is responsible for drawing election redistricting maps for the U.S. House of Representatives, the State Senate, and the House of Delegates.
The Washington Post Editorial Board supported the ballot measure. The board argued that the amendment would "dampen political opportunism and manipulation" in the redistricting process and promote balance. The ACLU of Virginia also supported the amendment, stating that it would positively affirm the right to vote for citizens who are over 18 and meet Virginia residency requirements. Additionally, Phillip Thompson, an attorney and the Executive Director of the National Black nonpartisan redistricting organization, supported the amendment, believing that it could have a positive impact on the Black community by mitigating gerrymandering and protecting the Voting Rights Act.
Grassroots volunteer Chris Ambrose opposed the amendment, arguing that it would not change the backroom decisions made by legislators during the redistricting process. Del. Cia Price D-Newport News also spoke against the amendment during a debate in the House of Delegates.
Virginia Constitutional Amendment 1 was approved by voters on November 3, 2020.
Supporters of the amendment argued that it would reduce political manipulation in redistricting, increase balance, and protect the rights of voters and minority communities. On the other hand, opponents of the amendment expressed concerns that it would not significantly change the process, and that legislators would still have too much control over the commission responsible for redistricting.
