Community Redistricting Workshops

for Nash/Edgecombe (Thurs. May 5)

and

Halifax/Northampton (Fri. May 6)

>>>These workshops will help you prepare for the legislative public hearings on Sat. May 7

Thursday – May 5 -  6-8:30 pm (Refreshments available at 5:30 pm) Word Tabernacle Church Fellowship Hall – 820 Nashville Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27803, phone 252-442-2925.

Redistricting presentations on congress, legislative districts, Nash and Edgecombe commissioners, NASH/Rocky Mount and Edgecombe school boards and Rocky Mount and Tarboro City Councils; Q& A, assistance with public hearing statements and follow-up community resources provided

Friday – May 6 – 6-8:30 pm (Refreshments available at 5:30 pm) – Halifax Community College –200 College Drive, Weldon, NC 27890, 400 Building, Room 401 A&B – phone (252) 536-4221.

Redistricting presentations on congress, legislative districts, Halifax Commissioners, Roanoke Rapids City Council and Enfield Town Council; Q& A, assistance with public hearing statements and follow-up community resources provided

*Both these workshops are sponsored by area elected officials, Southern Coalition for Social Justice and NAACP.  For more information contact, Karon Hardy at 919-733-5878 or by email, bryantla@ncleg.net.

Area Legislative Redistricting Public Hearings – Sat. May 7

2011 Redistricting Public Hearing

HALIFAX AND EDGECOMBE SITES

REDISTRICTING PUBLIC HEARINGS

The Joint Redistricting Committee has announced a schedule for public hearings throughout the state. 

You, your organizations, and your colleagues are invited to attend one or more of these public hearings. We need to hear from you on all matters related to legislative and congressional redistricting, including but not limited to suggestions on districts, statewide plans, and matters related to compliance with federal and state law, especially the following topics relating to the

Voting Rights Act:

1. Proposed legislative and congressional districts or plans.

2. Opinions or evidence regarding whether the state is still experiencing racially polarized voting in statewide elections, legislative or congressional elections, or any other related elections. We are particularly interested in elections that have occurred in counties covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act as well as areas of the State outside of Section 5 counties that have been or may be the subject of litigation under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

3. The meaning and impact of the decisions by the United States Supreme Court and North Carolina Supreme Court in Bartlett v. Strickland.

4. The importance of drawing districts based upon citizen voting age population and any recommendations on how census data can be used to estimate citizen voting age population.

5. The continuing presence or continuing effects of evidence known as the “Gingles factors” including but not limited to: (1) the extent of any history of official discrimination in the State or political subdivision that infringes upon the rights of members of a minority group to register, vote, or otherwise participate in the democratic process; (2) the extent to which voting in elections of state or political subdivisions is racially polarized; (3) the extent to which voting in elections of state or political subdivision has used large election districts, majority vote requirements, anti-single shot provisions or other voting practices or procedures that may enhance the opportunity for discrimination against the minority group; (4) if there is candidate slating the extent to which members of the minority group have been denied access to that process; (5) the extent to which members of the minority group in the State or political subdivision bear the effects of discrimination in such areas as education, employment, and health, which hinder their ability to participate effectively in the political process; (6) whether political campaigns have been characterized by overt or subtle racial appeals; (7) the extent to which members of the minority group have been elected to public office; and (8) the responsiveness on the part of elected officials to the particularized needs of members of the minority group.

6. Any and all other matters related to compliance with Section 5 or Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

7. Any and all other matters you believe should be considered by the General Assembly in creating legislative and congressional districts or plans.

Finally, we appreciate any help you can provide in publicizing our hearing schedule and encouraging interested citizens to participate at these hearings.

Thank you for your consideration and assistance. Please send any information for consideration to all of the Legislators listed below:

Committee Member — Rep. Angela Bryant at angelab.ncleg.net or mail to:

North Carolina House of Representatives

542 LOB

300 N. Salisbury Street

Raleigh, NC 27603. 

919-733-5878

AND

Chair –Representative David R. Lewis at David.lewis@ncleg.net, or mail to:

House of Representatives

534 LOB, 300 N. Salisbury St.

Raleigh, NC 27603

919-715-3015

PUBLIC HEARING GUIDELINES

Redistricting Committees of the 2011 General Assembly

1. Speakers need to sign up on the "Speaker Sheet" in order to speak.

2. Speakers will have up to 5 minutes for presentation to the Committee.

3. Registration for speaking will begin 72 hours in advance of the hearing online at http://www.ncleg.net/Redistricting, up to ____ speakers, and 1 hour prior to the convening of the hearing at the hearing site, and continue until the end of the hearing.

4. Speakers will be called according to the order of registration.

5. If a speaker is not present when called, the speaker will be skipped at that time. Time permitting at the end of all registered speakers, those skipped will be allowed to speak.

6. The presiding chair, at his discretion, may change these guidelines.

For additional information on the Redistricting process, please visit the General Assembly web page at http://www.ncleg.net/Redistricting. 

For those unable to attend a public hearing, written comments may be submitted for inclusion in the record.  To submit public comment, please visit the website to make comments on line.  Written comments can also be mailed in to Redistricting, Attention Erika Churchill, 300 N. Salisbury St. Suite 545, Raleigh, NC 27603-5925.