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State Senate Releases Proposed District Maps

Nov. 29, 2011 | WMFE - The Senate committee charged with redrawing Florida's Congressional and Legislative districts has released a rough draft of its plans. The lines were created after lawmakers took testimony at public hearings statewide and looked at 157 maps submitted by the public.


It's the first official draft of Florida's reapportionment plan for 2012. Redistricting is required every ten years to account for changes in the state's population.

What's different this time is the addition of amendments five and six to the state Constitution. Voters approved the amendments last year. Known as the “Fair Districts” amendments, they say the legislature cannot favor any party or incumbent when drawing district lines.

Lawmakers are looking at creating new districts to accommodate the increase of minorities in Florida. As they work to follow the criteria set by voters and by law, the Herald Times Tallahassee bureau found that the result may be what's known as retrogression, meaning a change for the worse.

In the past, lawmakers have drawn lines to protect seats held by minority incumbents. That's no longer allowed under the new rules.

More public comment will be taken in the next week then the committee will vote on whether to make more changes or introduce the draft proposal to the full Senate.

  

 

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