Public Invited to Participate in Redistricting Process

State Senator Dan Stec said the public is invited to participate in a virtual hearing this Thursday and offer testimony to New York State’s Independent Redistricting Commission, which is charged with redrawing legislative and congressional districts to help ensure fair representation in state and federal government.

Stec said every ten years new congressional, state senate and assembly district lines are drawn to reflect population and demographic changes reported in the US Census.

“In the past, elected officials drew the lines but now, thanks to a 2014 referendum that more than 2 million New Yorkers supported, a new ‘Independent Redistricting Commission’ will create the districts.  Critical to their effort is hearing from New Yorkers from all across the state including the North Country region.”

As part of its charge to revise district lines, the Independent Redistricting Commission must consider impacts on existing neighborhoods and communities, based on information it gathers from its public hearings and written testimony.

The Independent Redistricting Commission will accept testimony submissions through its website, www.nyirc.gov.  Any group or individual is entitled to submit opinions or testimony at the virtual public hearing, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 5 at 2 pm. 

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