Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) this week voted in support of a New York State constitutional amendment (A.2086/S.2107) which would reform the redistricting process to make it independent and transparent.

The amendment would:

- create an independent redistricting commission to draw the legislative and congressional district lines;

- require that new district lines be drawn in such manner as to protect minority voting rights and communities of interest and affirmatively explain deviations from population equality for each district;

- require extensive public hearings around the state and the commission's release of all relevant data and draft plans to facilitate public review and public drafting of proposed district lines; and,

- establish voting rules in both the commission and in each house of the legislature to ensure that minority party conferences participate fully in the process of drawing new lines.

Thiele, a long time supporter of overhauling the redistricting process stated, “Because redistricting occurs only once every 10 years, it is important that this process is fair.”

This resolution, which was first introduced and passed in 2012, must pass both the Assembly and Senate again in 2013. If successful, it must then be approved by the voters of New York State in the November 2014 election.