County Fast-Tracks Redistricting

County redistricting will have to be fast-tracked due to an oversight, according to the county government. The meeting to approve the redistricting plan will have to take place a month before it was originially scheduled, leaving much less time for adjustments and public input.

The Board of County Supervisors has called a special meeting for Monday, April 18, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. to adopt a redistricting plan. The new meeting date—a month earlier than the original date of May 17—is due to an oversight in the planning process. The Prince William Electoral Board informed the BOCS late Friday afternoon that the original date would not meet legal requirements.

State and federal law requires absentee ballots be available no later than 45 days prior to a Primary or General Election. According to a county press release, the  the county was not made aware of that requirement during the planning process for redistricting. 

Residents will be able to speak at a public hearing on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. as well as at the special meeting on April 18. The Electoral Board will also address the Board of County Supervisors at the April 5 meeting.

Information about redistricting, including the letter from the Electoral Board and the proposed redistricting maps, can be found on the county website at www.pwcgov.org/redistricting.