Redistricting SC 2021 continues in the SC Senate and SC House. Keep your eyes on the goal: fair maps for South Carolina. Let legislators know #WeAreWatching.
The SC Senate |
The SC House |
| Senate Redistricting 2021 | |
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July 27 – Aug. 12: statewide public hearings held re: map criteria with in-person & virtual access
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Aug. 3: adopted 2011 criteria for 2021 at the first meeting
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Aug. 12: census data received, map drawing begins
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| Mid-Sept.: third parties submit maps |
? third parties submit maps
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| Sept. 8-Oct. 4: statewide public hearings | |
| Mid-Oct.: final maps approved | |
The Senate process
Initial Senate public hearings have been completed. We thank the Senate and its redistricting staff for well-organized, accessible, and productive hearings.
Your chance to be heard?
Anyone planning to submit maps to the Senate should be prepared by mid-September, probably by September 15, to ensure that their maps are part of the decision-making process.
Senate members also have indicated that they expect to meet by mid-October to approve final maps, although no specific date has been set.
The House process
Your chance to be heard?
The House Redistricting website schedule now includes information on venues for all hearings.
The first House hearings will be at Myrtle Beach on September 8. The final meeting will be in Columbia on October 4. Individual hearing agendas online at www.scstatehouse.gov state that:
- written testimony should be submitted to redistricting [at] schouse.gov
- a request to participate virtually in the October 4 hearing (still the only House hearing with virtual access in spite of the resurgence of COVID-19) should be sent to virtualtestimony [at] schouse.gov.
When can third parties submit maps to the committee? We've been told to watch the website for that information; it is not yet posted. However, given the overall time frame, it is very likely that the House maps will have been drawn prior to completing public input, possibly prior to initiating public input. Whether the hearings will include the availability of their maps for comment remains unknown.
ACLU attorney to assist redistricting organizations
The ACLU of South Carolina is hiring a full-time, time-limited, attorney to assist organizations throughout South Carolina in their work towards a redistricting process that is as fair and transparent as possible. We are told that the person in this position will be available to assist and advise all of this, and we very much appreciate this great contribution from the ACLU.
Voters should decide elections, not legislators. #WeAreWatching.
League of Women Voters of South Carolina criteria:
- should exclude partisan and incumbent protection
- should not be drawn with the intention of reducing competitiveness
- should avoid splitting counties and precincts when possible
