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2018 SESSION

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(HB1598)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

 

    Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1598, which would establish criteria in the Code of Virginia by which congressional and state legislative districts must be drawn.

    While I support codifying criteria that would be followed when drawing legislative districts, this legislation excludes criteria that are essential to fair electoral maps. Any criteria for redistricting must prohibit districts from being drawn to restrict or deny the ability of any racial or ethnic minority to participate in the political process and elect a preferred candidate. I believe the criteria should also prohibit districts that favor or disfavor any political party, incumbent legislator, member of Congress or individual or entity.

    This legislation does not go far enough in establishing criteria that would ensure a fair electoral process for Virginia citizens.

    Accordingly, I veto this bill.

GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

 

    1. Line 13, enrolled, after B.

      strike

        Legislative

      insert

        State legislative

 

    2. Line 24, enrolled, after be

      strike

        respected to the maximum extent possible

      insert

        considered

 

    3. Line 24, enrolled, after possible.

      strike

        the remainder of line 24 and all of lines 25 through 38

 

    4. Line 39, enrolled, after Each

      insert

        state

 

    5. Line 44, enrolled, after Each

      insert

        state

 

    6. Line 44, enrolled, after territory.

      strike

        the remainder of line 44, all of lines 45, 46, and 47, and through water. on line 48

 

    7. Line 51, enrolled, after G.

      strike

        the remainder of line 51, all of line 52, and through culture on line 53

      insert

        Existing communities of interest shall be considered by creating districts that do not carve up homogenous neighborhoods or separate groups of people with similar social, cultural, or economic interests living in an area

 

    8. At the beginning of line 54, enrolled

      insert

        H. No state legislative or congressional district shall be drawn to restrict or deny the ability of any racial or language minority to participate in the political process and to elect a preferred candidate of choice.

        I. No state legislative or congressional district shall be drawn for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent legislator, member of Congress, or individual or entity.