Politics & Government
State Redistricting Meeting Held in Tampa
The state is in the process of redrawing House, Senate and congressional districts. Tampa's public input meeting takes place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. this evening (Monday, August 29) in the Jefferson High School Auditorium, 4401 Cypress St.
Lawmakers from across Florida will meet this evening in Tampa for a Congressional Redistricting meeting.
Throughout the summer, citizens across Florida have expressed their preferences on the state’s political boundary lines in public meetings. Now Hillsborough County will have its turn. Tampa’s public input meeting takes place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jefferson High School Auditorium, 4401 Cypress St., Tampa.
Attendees will discuss redrawing boundary lines for the House, the Senate and Congress in this meeting.
Find out what's happening in Seminole Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"It is critical that the community gets involved in redistricting to ensure their voice is being heard," said State Rep. Rachel Burgin (R-Riverview). "The manner in which lawmakers prioritize concerns for the next 10 years depends on the participation now.
"I believe the citizens of each community play a vital role in the redistricting process," she said. "Many of the stories we have heard thus far assure us that Florida’s citizens are prioritizing the shape of their districts differently for the next decade. It excites me to see our citizens so passionate and concerned about developing our new district lines.”
Find out what's happening in Seminole Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Redistricting refers to the process by which census data is used to redraw the lines and boundaries of electoral districts within a state to ensure that districts are substantially equal in population. This process affects districts at all levels of government – from local school boards and city councils to state legislatures and the U.S. House of Representatives.
It's not an easy task this year. The committee must draw lines for 27 congressional districts, two more than the state currently has. That's because the 2010 census revealed that Florida's population has expanded so much it requires the state have two more districts.
Residents can also try their hand at drawing districts. District Builder is a full-featured web application with 2010 Census data for drawing Florida Senate, Florida House, and Congressional districts and submitting them to the Legislature. Citizens have full and easy access to the same web application and information that legislators and professional staff use.
To get started, register for a secure District Builder account. To learn more about District Builder before registering, view the online Help Manual.
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