Virginia House Bill HB433

Virginia 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/24
• Refer: 1/8/24

Caption

State legislative districts; how districts numbered.

Impact

This legislation is significant as it provides clarity on how congressional and state legislative districts will be drawn and numbered in Virginia following the 2030 decennial census. By establishing specific criteria for the boundaries and representations, the bill aims to uphold fair representation in accordance with the population changes recorded during the census. Clear guidelines will assist in determining legal boundaries, which may reduce disputes over districting in future elections.

Summary

House Bill 433 amends the legal description of Virginia's congressional and state legislative districts. The bill establishes that Virginia will continue to have 11 congressional representatives elected from unique congressional districts. It stipulates that the boundaries of these districts will be determined by the block equivalency file and the resulting shapefile, which are electronic versions of the districts established according to the state constitution and relevant statutes. Additionally, the bill confirms that there will be 40 Senate districts and 100 House of Delegates districts, each with specific boundaries laid out similarly to the congressional districts.

Contention

While the bill seems to standardize the districting process, potential points of contention could arise about the methodology behind the drawing of these districts. Concerns may center around maintaining equitable representation for diverse populations across Virginia, particularly in light of continuous demographic shifts and political considerations surrounding redistricting. Advocates pushing for fair representation may scrutinize how and by whom the boundary lines are drawn, fearing that partisan interests could lead to gerrymandering if not adequately monitored.