HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 81
(By Delegates Cowles, Andes, Armstead, Ashley, Blair, Border,
Carmichael, Duke, Ellem, Evans, Hamilton, Ireland, Lane,
McGeehan, Michael, C. Miller, J. Miller, Overington, Porter,
Rodighiero, Romine, Rowan, Schadler, Shook, Shott, Sobonya, D.
Walker and Walters)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
issues implicated in the redistricting of the House of
Delegates into one hundred single member districts after the
2010 census.
Whereas, The Legislature finds single member districts best
exemplify the principle of one person, one vote; and
Whereas, Single member districts provide enhanced
responsiveness to constituent needs, as the less constituents that
each delegate represents, the more time and energy a delegate shall
have to devote to their needs; and
Whereas, Single member districts provide enhanced
accountability, as it is easier for citizens to follow the actions
of one delegate than to follow the actions of many; and
Whereas, Single member districts would aid in the
implementation of campaign finance reform as these smaller
districts would reduce the amount of money needed for candidates to successfully contest elections; and
Whereas, Where large sums of money must be raised to compete in
multidelegate districts, inordinate attention is given to the
interests of contributors, and not the citizenry as a whole; and
Whereas, Historically, multimember districts were a tactic used
in the segregation era to deny minority voters the full exercise of
their franchise; and
Whereas, Multimember districts continue to cause the
disenfranchisement of large groups of voters in whole regions of
West Virginia, including among others, voters in eastern Kanawha
County and Mason County; and
Whereas, Only ten states do not utilize the single member
district system; and
Whereas, That of all the states in the Union, only West
Virginia and New Hampshire continue to have legislative districts
consisting of three or more members; and
Whereas, For these reasons the West Virginia Legislature
supports the redistricting of the House of Delegates into one
hundred single member districts after the 2010 census; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study issues implicated in the redistricting of the
House of Delegates into one hundred single member districts after
the 2010 census; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2011, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.