Redistricting maps almost complete

WWLP TV

Updated: Jun 21, 2012 5:16 PM

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) — A week from Thursday, the legislature's Redistricting Committee will hold their final meeting.

The legislature's Redistricting Committee will be at the State House looking for public input as to how they can improve legislative maps in Massachusetts in the future.

Committee Chairman Stanley Rosenberg of Amherst said one of the unresolved issues includes prison inmates. In determining district populations, currently inmates are counted in prison facilities rather than the communities they come from.

Another issue is that the Massachusetts Legislature draws their legislative maps after communities map out new precincts.  Lawmakers say fewer communities would be split if the legislature draws its maps first. 

Last November, Governor Deval Patrick signed a redistricting bill that reduced the state's 10 congressional districts to 9 to reflect population loss.

Sen. Stanley Rosenberg told 22News the process is going smoothly. "Not only was the result of redistricting positive and strong, no court challenges, but also people liked the process very much.  We want to make sure that ten years from now people don't forget what we did now don't forget what issues are left unresolved," Rosenberg said.

This latest round of redistricting led by Senator Rosenberg has been praised for its online openness and transparency.

It will be a decade before another round of redistricting is repeated in Massachusetts.

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