COLUMBIA, SC — In the midst of the worst COVID-19 spike our state has experienced, the House Redistricting Committee refuses to offer a safe way for constituents to have their voices heard in this once in a decade process. Committee Chairman, Representative Jay Jordan, is putting South Carolinians in danger by not providing a virtual option for testimony or livestreaming every public redistricting hearing. There is one hearing currently scheduled that will allow virtual testimony, which is only slated to last 3.5 hours. This is the only virtual option available for the entire state.
Clearly virtual testimony and broadcasting meetings are possible because the Senate Committee held ten hearings with both just a few weeks ago. The Senate Committee also has an archive on their website which includes videos from each meeting.
“South Carolinians should not have to risk getting sick from a deadly virus just to have their voices heard on the redistricting process,” said SCDP Chair Trav Robertson, Jr. “This is not a game. The consequences of the maps produced by this committee will last 10+ years. Shame on Jay Jordan for stifling in-person public testimony, especially when it’s so easy to virtually connect citizens with these hearings. Unfortunately, we’ve come to expect this behavior from South Carolina Republican leaders.”
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