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Introduced Version House Concurrent Resolution 81 History

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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.





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