Consensus Eludes Redistricting Commission

A consensus that Virginia's new Redistricting Commission must achieve to adopt new legislative maps mostly has eluded the 16-member panel in a series of policy and procedural votes. The panel has voted to hire two sets of lawyers -- one Republican, one Democratic -- that could offer conflicting advice as the commission battles a 45-day deadline. This visual examines the fault lines on 15 procedural votes so far.

On 15 procedural and rule votes so far, Republican members have been more unified than Democrats.

In 15 votes, how many times have citizen members been willing to break ranks with their party's legislative members?

* Virginia Trost-Thornton was elected by the commission on July 19 to fill the seat held by Marvin Gilliam after his resignation. She missed the first five votes tallied here.

# On June 6, Greta Harris stated her intent to break with a majority of Democratic legislators on two votes on whether to seek a bid from a law firm that could offer "nonpartisan" advice. She had to drop off the Zoom meeting before the votes were taken. Because she was not present, she was considered a "no vote" on each question. Because her intent was clear, VPAP is counting her position in this portion of the graphic.

Of the eight legislative members, only two (both Democrats) have broken with their party so far on votes determining rules and procedures.

This chart contains each member's position on 15 votes that will guide how Virginia's new Redistricting Commission will draw legislative district boundaries, starting later this month.

* Virginia Trost-Thornton was elected by the commission on July 19 to fill the seat held by Marvin Gilliam after his resignation. She missed the first five votes tallied here.

Keep up with the Virginia Public Access Project's coverage of redistricting in Virginia, find out more about the commission members, and stay informed with the headlines.

Source: Virginia Redistricting Commission, VPAP research on 15 select motions voted on by the Redistricting Commission. Excludes abstentions and Commissioners with no recorded vote.